6 Reasons Why You Should Wash Clothes Inside Out | Whirlpool (2024)

There are many reasons to turn clothes inside out when washing them, like helping to preserve the appearance of your garments. Use this guide to learn the benefits of turning your clothes inside out before washing them to help you better care for your family’s clothes.

6 Reasons Why You Should Wash Clothes Inside Out | Whirlpool (1) 6 Reasons Why You Should Wash Clothes Inside Out | Whirlpool (2)

Why wash clothes inside out?

Turning your clothes inside out before washing them can help protect the fabric during the wash cycle to help keep your clothes looking new for a long time. Explore the benefits of washing your clothes inside out so you can best protect your clothes on laundry day. Always remember to consult your clothing’s laundry care label before washing to avoid damage.

6 Reasons Why You Should Wash Clothes Inside Out | Whirlpool (3)

1. Reduces pilling

Although your washing machine isn’t the culprit behind fabric pilling, it can exacerbate the problem if a clothing item has already begun to pill. Many washing machines rely on friction and agitation to remove soils and stains, which can make fabric pilling worse. Turning your clothes inside out protects the outside of your clothes from that agitation, helping to maintain its smooth appearance.

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2. Prevents color bleeding

Dark or vibrantly dyed fabrics tend to bleed during the wash cycle.The washing process can agitate or loosen dyes and hot water temperatures are typically known for causing color bleeding. Turning your clothes inside out before washing can help to reduce fading.

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3. Protects decorative designs

Embellishments like screen prints, rhinestones and embroidery tend to be more sensitive to the elements of a wash cycle. When you wash your clothes inside out, the decorative designs are more protected from the friction of the wash cycle to help them look new for longer periods of time.

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4. Helps to avoid odor retention

Garments that frequently come into contact with sweat and body odor, like jerseys, sports bras, leggings and sweat socks, may retain some of that odor even after a wash cycle. Washing clothes inside out in addition to pretreating odors may help to improve cleaning of the dirtiest areas of your clothes as the interior of your items come into direct contact with sweat.

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5. Reduces risk of detergent stains

Detergent stains occur when laundry detergent does not properly dissolve during the wash cycle. Most detergent stains are not permanent, but they can be frustrating. When you wash your clothes inside out, you prevent the risk of a detergent stain landing on the outer layer of your items and affecting their overall appearance.

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6. Helps prevent color fading

Washing your clothes inside out helps prevent fading by allowing the inside of your garments to take the brunt of agitation and color fading that occurs during a wash cycle. This helps to protect the outside dye of your shirt or pants by reducing friction and contact while still ensuring a thorough wash.

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Do clothes dry better inside out?

When you dry your clothes inside out, you’re helping to prevent color fading and lint buildup on the outside of the items that may occur from tumbling in the dryer. Drying your clothes inside out helps to prevent damage to the garment as a whole.

Should you wash your socks inside out?

Yes, you should wash socks inside out in addition to pretreating the fabric as it can reduce odor retention. The interior of your socks can come into direct contact with dirt and sweat. Turning them inside out before washing allows the detergent to attack odors head on, which may provide you with a more thorough clean.

Do you wash baby clothes inside out?

It is recommended to wash baby clothes inside out as it can help protect the fabric and seams from general wear and tear. To help maintain the longevity of your baby’s clothes, you should also button all buttons and close any zippers before tossing them in your washer.

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6 Reasons Why You Should Wash Clothes Inside Out | Whirlpool (2024)

FAQs

Why is it better to wash clothes inside out? ›

Turning your laundry inside out before washing makes sure that any friction between garments that can cause damage, staining, on the outside of your garments. If there is any bleeding or damage, it's the inside of your clothing, which no one will ever see, that takes the beating rather than the outside.

Why turn socks inside out for washing? ›

Yes, you should wash socks inside out in addition to pretreating the fabric as it can reduce odor retention. The interior of your socks can come into direct contact with dirt and sweat. Turning them inside out before washing allows the detergent to attack odors head on, which may provide you with a more thorough clean.

What are 2 reasons for washing clothes? ›

Regular washing of clothes and bedding, helps to remove any bacteria, dirt, fleas, mites and other irritants or infection. Washing of clothes and bedding can help reduce the incidence of infectious diseases, such as diarrhoeal disease, respiratory infections, scabies and other skin infections.

Why should we not wash clothes on Thursday? ›

Activities such as applying soap on the body, applying oil on the hair, washing hair, clothing, etc. on Thursday are believed to diminish wealth and good fortune. In addition, it also displeases goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu.

Why should you wash jeans inside out? ›

Turn your jeans inside out when washing them to help protect the fibers on the outside of the jeans from friction and direct exposure from detergent, which helps prevent fading. However, it's not rare for jeans to bleed dye, especially if they're new.

Should I turn my hoodie inside out when washing? ›

Before you throw your hoodie into the washer, turn it inside out to protect the outside layer. This helps prevent the color from bleeding and keeps the outer layer from rubbing against other garments in the wash.

How many times wear clothes without washing? ›

Dress pants or slacks: after 2-3 wearings. Jeans: after 4-5 wearings. Sweaters: up to 6 wearings, if worn with an undershirt; 1-2 wearings if worn without an undershirt. Suits/blazers/casual jackets: after 5-6 wearings.

Why do we soak clothes before washing? ›

Pre-soaking allows the water and detergent to penetrate the stained area for an extended period, breaking down and loosening the stain particles. This makes it much easier to remove the stain completely when you proceed with the regular wash.

Does separating laundry matter? ›

While separating laundry is not absolutely necessary in all cases, it is more beneficial to do so than to not do it. “If you are washing new or heavily dyed clothes, it is always a good idea to separate them by color to prevent bleeding,” explains Jacqueline Stein, a professional cleaner in Austin, Texas.

What day are you not supposed to wash clothes? ›

Don't wash those clothes

According to folklore, if you wash clothes on New Year's Day, you'll be “washing for the dead” or washing a loved one away -- meaning someone in your household will die in the coming year. Get your laundry washed, dried, folded and put away by New Year's Eve.

What day should you not wash? ›

One of the most common New Year superstitions is that no loads of laundry should be done on January 1. Yet some go one step further and follow a tradition that any dirty clothes should remain untouched from Christmas all the way up until New Year's Day.

Why not wash hair on Wednesday? ›

- Wednesday - In Hinduism, there is a widespread notion that washing one's hair on Wednesdays is bad for the child's health, especially for mothers of single boys. On the other hand, if newlywed ladies choose to have a boy as a child, they are also said to have to wash their hair on Wednesday.

What is a better way to wash clothes? ›

7 laundry tips and tricks for washing clothes
  1. Select the right water temperature. ...
  2. Prep and sort your clothes for the wash cycle. ...
  3. Use a mesh bag for delicates. ...
  4. Hang dry your knits. ...
  5. Clean your washer regularly. ...
  6. Choose the right wash and dry cycle for each load. ...
  7. Don't let your clothes sit for too long.

What does it mean when you put your clothes on inside out? ›

In ancient times, people wore clothes with the wrong side out to hide their identity from evil spirits and hostile gazes. Some believed that wearing clothes inside out could cause bad consequences, such as bad luck, illness, and disagreements with loved ones.

Why you shouldn't wear clothes before washing? ›

New clothes can contain leftover dyes and chemicals.

This condition is actually a type of eczema, and it's characterized by an itchy rash that can develop when your skin comes in contact with something bothersome, Jennifer Chen, MD, a clinical professor of dermatology at Stanford Medicine, tells SELF.

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