Washing machine: five simple routines to protect your clothes

Most people think about temperature, programme and detergent when starting the washing machine. Yet the real difference is often made in the two minutes beforehand, through tiny actions we tend to overlook in everyday life. These very steps determine whether a T-shirt still looks good after ten washes or already seems shabby, and whether denim ages softly or becomes dull and patchy.

Why the washing machine “eats” your clothes

Inside the machine, textiles are under constant strain: fabric is flung against the metal drum, rubs against other items, creases and catches threads. Open zips act like little files, protruding buttons snag, and forgotten tissues disintegrate into a snowfall of lint.

Anyone who wants to protect their clothes needs to “secure” them, in a sense, before starting the programme – with five simple routines.

These routines do more than extend the life of shirts, trousers and jumpers. They also leave laundry smoother, reduce the need for ironing and prevent the frustration of garments looking “old” after only a short time.

A fabric shield: turn clothes inside out before washing

The most important step is to turn garments inside out before putting them in the wash. It may sound trivial, but it works like a protective layer. The visible outer surface then mainly rubs against itself rather than directly against the drum and other textiles.

Printed T-shirts, delicate blouses and sweatshirts with large designs particularly benefit from this step. Prints are less likely to crack, glitter and film details stay attached for longer, and embroidery does not fray as quickly.

Those who consistently wash their tops, hoodies and blouses inside out visibly slow down wear – especially on prints and decorative details.

A practical everyday rule of thumb:

• T-shirts, jumpers and hoodies: always wash inside out
• Items with prints, sequins or embroidery: always wash inside out
• Fine knitwear and delicate fabrics: wash inside out and place in a laundry bag

This extra step takes only seconds, yet can save a great deal of money and frustration over time.

Small details, big results: fasten buttons and fully close zips

Why unfastened buttons cause problems

Open button plackets are a recurring source of trouble during the spin cycle: they tangle, pull on seams and distort collars and necklines. Shirts and blouses can therefore lose their shape much sooner.

Fastening buttons before washing gives the entire garment more stability. It retains its shape, the seams face less strain and buttons are far less likely to be torn off.

Zips: the underestimated “biters” in the drum

Open zips are even more abrasive. Their teeth act like tiny saw blades, scratching delicate blouses, tearing tights and often leaving pale streaks on dark fabrics.

Always close the zip completely – from the waistband of trousers right to the top of a jacket. Only then does it lie flat and become “less dangerous”.

This applies to:

• Jeans and fabric trousers
• Zip-up bedding
• Jackets, hoodies and zip-up sweatshirts
• Cushion covers and covers

Consistently securing buttons and zips also helps to reduce creasing. Laundry becomes less tangled because individual items are less likely to catch on one another.

Danger in your pockets: remove paper scraps, coins and more before washing

Perhaps the most irritating classic is a forgotten paper tissue in a trouser pocket. After spinning, the entire load is covered in white fluff. This creates extra work and can eventually clog the filter and drain pump.

Pockets can contain other troublesome items too: coins, paper clips, keys, screws and even wireless earphones. They may damage not just clothes, but the washing machine itself.

Spending half a minute checking pockets before washing prevents damage to the drum, pump and favourite garments – ultimately saving genuine repair costs.

A useful routine before every wash:

• Turn all trouser and jacket pockets inside out
• Remove paper and sweets
• Take out coins, keys and small objects
• Rescue any earphones or USB sticks that may be inside

This check is particularly worthwhile for children’s clothes and workwear, as small hard objects especially often end up in these garments.

Jeans and dark colours: keeping colour fresh for longer

Denim is hard-wearing, but its colour and surface are sensitive. Jeans quickly develop lighter abrasion marks, especially at the knees, seat and creased areas. Washing them the right way round intensifies this effect.

For this reason, jeans should always be turned inside out. Their inner side then absorbs most of the friction, while the outside keeps its even colour for longer.

Jeans washed inside out lose colour more slowly and leave less abrasion on other textiles.

Other dark or richly coloured garments also benefit from this trick, including black T-shirts, dark shirts and coloured jogging bottoms. Used with a colour detergent at a moderate temperature, their shade remains noticeably more vibrant for longer.

Garment	Recommended tip
Jeans	inside out, zip closed, maximum 40 degrees
Black T-shirts	inside out, gentle cycle, liquid colour detergent
Shirt	fasten buttons, smooth the collar lightly
Fine knitwear	inside out, laundry bag, low spin speed

The main cause of severe creasing: an overfilled drum

Many people want to save time and energy by cramming the machine full to the brim. This is exactly what creates deep creases that even an iron can barely remove. When textiles have almost no room to move, they are simply compressed during spinning.

A rule of thumb from specialist retailers is that there should still be space for a hand between the laundry and the drum wall. Following this “hand rule” leaves enough room for movement, water and detergent.

A drum that is not overloaded means smoother laundry, fewer creases and gentler treatment of the fibres.

Many modern machines automatically use less water when there is less laundry inside. Splitting a load can therefore use less energy than expected, while also resulting in better-kept clothing.

How to combine the five routines in everyday life

The individual tips can be turned into a simple sequence that takes barely more than two minutes before each wash:

• Sort clothes by separating colours and materials
• Turn T-shirts, jumpers, jeans and printed items inside out
• Fasten buttons and fully close zips
• Check and empty every pocket
• Load the drum, then use the hand rule to make sure there is still space

After consciously following this order a few times, it becomes a habit. Eventually, it happens automatically – much like brushing your teeth.

Why gentle washing also makes financial sense

Clothing is becoming more expensive and raw materials are becoming scarcer. Wearing textiles for longer saves real money while also reducing personal consumption. Put simply, if a favourite jumper lasts twice as long, the cost per wear is halved.

A longer lifespan also puts less strain on the washing machine and tumble dryer. There are fewer foreign objects in the system, less overloading and less stress on the motor and bearings. Repairs and replacement purchases can be postponed.

Mistakes many people still make – and can easily avoid

Common everyday errors are easy to correct: washing shirts on a quick cycle with a high spin speed, mixing rough items such as jeans with delicate laundry, or using a heavily perfumed general-purpose detergent for everything. Paying attention to lower spin speeds for sensitive fabrics and using a dedicated colour detergent for coloured items provides additional protection for the fibres.

Another important point is to remove laundry from the drum as soon as possible after the programme ends. If it remains damp inside for hours, creases set in and the typical musty smell develops. Hanging it up straight away prevents both problems and, once again, cuts down the time spent at the ironing board.