Kitchen and everyday life · First steps · about 15 minutes of hands-on work, plus machine time

Do a Load of Laundry

Clean clothes start with the care label. Then you sort, pick a water temperature, measure detergent and let the machines work. One small habit, cleaning the dryer's lint filter, also lowers the risk of a dryer fire.

When to teach it: Watch from about 5, help sort and load from about 7, and do a load alone from about 10.

Detergent wraps grease in tiny balls called micelles, so the wash water can carry it away.

You'll need

Laundry detergent
The detergent's measuring cap or a measuring cup
Washer and dryer, or a drying rack
Your machines' owner's manuals

Before you start

Make sure the lint filter is in the dryer. Never run a dryer without it.
Check that the washer and dryer are plugged directly into wall outlets.

Step by step

Tick each step as you go if you like; ticks stay on this device.

Read the care labelsU.S. clothing labels must tell you how to wash and dry the item and warn you about steps that would harm it. If a label lists a water temperature, don't go hotter. Follow any 'Do not bleach' or 'Dry flat' instructions.
Sort the clothesKeep whites away from colors. Wash very dirty clothes apart from lightly dirty ones, lint-shedding items apart from others, and delicate items apart from sturdy ones.
Watch new colorsSome colored clothes bleed dye. If an item's color runs, wash it alone or with clothes of the same color.
Pretreat dirty spotsRub a little liquid detergent into collars, cuffs and other heavily soiled spots before washing.
Pick the water temperatureFollow the label first. Hot water cleans heavy dirt and kills more germs, but it can fade some colors. Warm water handles lightly soiled clothes and is safe for most colors. Cold water suits some delicate fabrics; use a detergent made for cold water.
Measure the detergentUse the amount on the detergent package for your load size and how dirty it is. Too much makes extra suds that keep clothes from getting clean. Too little leaves dirt and body oil behind.
Load looselyDon't stuff the washer. Clothes need room to move so water and detergent can flow through them. If your washer has a water-level setting, match it to the load.
Clean the lint filterBefore and after every dryer load, pull out the lint filter and clear off the lint.
Dry by the labelTumble dry, hang or lay flat, whichever the label says. Check for stains before anything goes in the dryer; see the stain guide.

Chemistry

How it works: How detergent pulls grease off clothes

Water alone can't wash away grease, because oil and water don't mix. Detergent fixes that. Its molecules have two ends. One end is attracted to water (hydrophilic, 'water-loving'). The other end is attracted to oil (hydrophobic, 'water-fearing').

In the wash, the oil-loving ends grab onto grease and body oil. The detergent molecules gather into tiny balls called micelles, with the oil trapped inside and the water-loving ends facing out. Now the water can carry the oil away when the washer drains and rinses.

Detergent also holds loosened dirt in the wash water so it doesn't settle back onto your clothes. That only works if the water can move, which is one reason not to overload the washer.

Try it: Pour water into a clear jar and add a spoonful of cooking oil. Put the lid on, shake, and watch the oil float back to the top. Now add a drop of dish soap, shake again, and look: the oil breaks into tiny drops that stay mixed in the water.

Keep learning: Science

Teaching it to your kids

Make sorting a game with three piles: whites, darks, and 'ask me.'
Read care labels together and match them to the machine settings.
Make cleaning the lint filter your child's job every single time.
Let them measure detergent with the cap and find the fill line.

Tips

Mix small items with large ones, like washcloths with sheets, so everything moves freely.
Care labels may use symbols instead of words. In the U.S., the FTC allows the ASTM symbol system.
A label that says 'Only non-chlorine bleach, when needed' means chlorine bleach would harm the item.
Check clothes as they come out of the dryer. If you see a spot, rub in a little detergent and wash again.

Common mistakes

Mistake	Instead
Washing a new red shirt with whites.	Keep whites apart, and wash new colors alone or with similar colors.
Adding extra detergent 'to be safe.'	Measure what the package says. Too many suds keep clothes from getting clean.
Stuffing the washer full.	Leave room for clothes to move.
Skipping the lint filter.	Clean it before and after every load.
Ignoring the care label.	Check it first, especially for 'Dry flat', 'Do not bleach' and temperature limits.

Safe habits

Clean the lint filter before and after each dryer cycle.
Never run the dryer without the lint filter.
Plug washers and dryers directly into wall outlets.
Clean the dryer vent ductwork every year.

Where to get help

Have your dryer installed and serviced by a professional, as the U.S. Fire Administration recommends.
If the outdoor vent flap doesn't open while the dryer runs, or the vent behind the dryer is crushed or blocked, get it fixed before you use the dryer again.

Sources

Free how-to guides for families, with nothing to earn, pass or send in. They follow U.S. rules and sources; your owner's manual, product labels and state and local rules come first.