<p>Bleach will make clothes wear out faster- choose between longer lasting eventual graying and whiter… I believe I read the fabric softeners can help clothes keep their color. The “snide comments” seem to have been deleted. But- why be so concerned about clothes? I would hope you have better things to do with your time than be a fashion plate, or do laundry too often.</p>
<p>A good alternative to the dark colors detergent is a half cup of salt in the cold wash water. Repeat this the first couple of times you wash the item and it will set the color for a long time - doesn’t prevent fading over long use, but i doubt the dark color detergent does either.
Another tip for at school, get some of those “Color Grabbers” and throw one into every white load. It will preventthe stray sock turning everything blue or pink.</p>
<p>We use the Shout Color Catcher sheets in almost all loads, especially the kids at school. You never know what was in the load before yours-bleach, muddy jeans, new black clothing, etc… By adding the color catcher, the kids can usually avoid the bleed from someone else’s laundry. Plus, even in a dark load there is usually a shirt that has some white on it, so the sheets help there also.</p>
<p>My son just returned home and timed his laundry so that he was just about out of clean clothes when he arrived home. I always do the laundry at home as I am pretty anal about how I like it done! Son started a load but ask it I would hang his polo shirts on the rack; I opened the machine to find 8 short sleeve polos, 6 t-shirts, about 20 pairs of boxers, socks, and a few other things! I do not have a large front load machine, my son is an XL, and there is no way there was room for water in that machine!! I am not sure how clean the clothes really got, but they will be good enough until the next time.</p>
<p>My son received a lesson on how not to break mom’s washer, and reminded me why I like to do the laundry myself :-)</p>
<p>OMG Scott! Do you actually iron your sheets (two sets?) every week? I’m actually allergic to my iron (except when I quilt—LOL), so I just can imagine ironing sheets every week.</p>
<p>Frostburg, lots of synthetic whites don’t tolerate bleach. It turns them awful shades of gray/yellow. I’ve even seen cotton/poly blends do this. So read the washing instructions carefully. (although, I think I read somewhere that over 40% of laundry instruction labels found in garments are incorrect:eek:)</p>
<p>My D has called home, complaining of bleach burn on some of her colored clothes after doing laundry in her dorm. She doesn’t use bleach. I explained that sometimes, if one is not careful, stray splashes of bleach from a prior load of whites can remain on surfaces/parts of the washer and stain subsequent loads. And somehow, it’s always your favorite blouse/pants/bra that get tagged, too:(</p>
<p>poet, yes that happens. I have a purple towel with white bleach splotches :(. </p>
<p>I admit that I don’t read the washing instructions everytime I buy a new piece of clothing. Back in the fall, when it came time to do my laundry for the first time, I called my mom and had her talk me through the steps. She’s been washing my clothes all my life until college without any incidences, so I figured calling her was the best thing to do.</p>
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<p>Yes. I currently have 6 sets of white 1500-thread count sheets. Because of their thickness, I have to iron them to give them a smooth, seamless feeling and look. I change them out every Sunday and Wednesday and wash and iron them every other Sunday. I’ve done it enough to where it isn’t all that time consuming :)</p>
<p>It feels so good to crawl into a fresh, clean bed. It allows me to have a good nights sleep.</p>
<p>Scott, you’re a bit anal-retentive, aren’t you? LOL! Bless your heart! Are you this persnickety about other things, too?</p>
<p>I remember visiting my batchelor great uncle at this Harlem apartment many years ago while on spring break from college. He shared it with a platonic lady friend. He gave me the grand tour (five rooms: 2 bdrms, lvng rm, bath) and his room was as neat and spare as an army barracks. All the clothes in his closet hung exactly 1" apart on identical wooden hangers, and by color and category (blue, black, grey, white, pants, shirts, jackets). His shoes, too, were polished and set at exact intervals. I asked, “uncle Tuck, you’re a bit of a neurotic, aren’t you?” We had a good laugh, but I’ve never met anyone since as fastidious as him.</p>