Sometimes we need to go beyond the care labels.
In my last post, we looked at the basics of laundry care labels. Checking and trying to follow these instructions can help avoid many laundry disasters, from discolored shirts after one wash to pilly dresses and sweaters after several.
That being said, in order to keep laundry day moving along, it’s unlikely that we’ll be able to follow every instruction precisely. There are just so many fabrics, colors, and details that to launder each item as instructed might mean setting aside three items to wash individually, three different ways!
In observing this point, Cheryl Mendelson writes:
As an experiment, I once sorted my laundry according to the exact instructions on the care labels. Although in quantity I had enough to make up three or four good-sized loads, if I had obeyed the labels I would have had to wash at least three times that many loads, as practically no two garments were labeled identically. No experienced home launderer actually washes twelve or more loads instead of four. Thus we all become care label skeptics, defying the labels without hesitation.
When to disregard care labels
For a comprehensive guide, I recommend reading the entire chapter on care labels in Mendelson’s book (see “Further Reading” below). Overall, the tip is to try to follow labels generally, and then to deviate when necessary with caution and knowledge of the risk (i.e., the more delicate or valuable a garment is, the less inclined we should be to ignore the care label). When in doubt, looking up washing methods for the fabric material or asking someone at the dry cleaner’s can help.
Disregarding care labels usually means mixing items with different care instructions in a laundry load together. When it comes to mixing laundry items, I have a few basic strategies:
- Opt for the gentler approach. If a delicate item is to be washed with less delicate items, choose a gentle or permanent press cycle to avoid damaging the delicate item. Only do this when needed so that everything gets sufficiently cleaned, and avoid mixing the load if the less delicate items are so dirty that they really need a stronger wash.
- Test items for color fastness and bleach tolerance. (See this video for a quick how-to!)
- Use your best judgment (especially if you’re familiar with the properties and care of different fabrics), knowing that care labels don’t give the full context or reasoning for their instructions and you could safely try an alternative method.
- Know the risks. There’s always a chance that disregarding a laundry care label could damage or ruin an item, so proceed with caution. Avoid experimenting on expensive items that you don’t want to risk ruining!
Thankfully, when it comes to laundry life, doing it well doesn’t always mean doing it perfectly. Sometimes, adjustments are necessary to keep things going so that we can go about our day, tending to other tasks and freeing up precious time for our homes and the people in it.
Happy laundering, and happy homemaking!
Further Reading
“Carefully Disregarding Care Labels,” Cheryl Mendelson (Home Comforts)
