At some point (in a galaxy, long long time ago) I learned to turn jeans, shorts and hoodies inside out when putting them into washing machine. For some reason, I don’t do the same with smaller, simple things like T-shirts and underwear.
I forgot what was the reasoning behind it, but when I think about it, can’t seem to come to a conclusion which way is better.
Is one way better than another and why?
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As far as I am aware, this is only something you should do with certain garments and the only garments I know of where it’s a good idea are silk screened things (IE graphic Ts). Flipping them inside out, as well as only using cold water, helps keep the silk screening fresh so it doesn’t crack or peel.
Housewife here, many thousands of loads under my belt; with a modern electric washing machine and regular levels of dirt you don’t have to do anything except make sure the clothes aren’t bunched up. Like unroll socks if they are in a ball and unwad jeans so the legs aren’t half inside themselves.
Use less detergent than you think you need in general. If you have stuff that’s extra funky find the soak feature on your machine or just stop it after it’s filled with water and let them sit (with soap) for 30 minutes before running it.
The only time you need special treatment is with special garments or special stains in my experience.
Use less detergent than you think you need
This can’t be said enough. You typically need 1/4 or less than what’s on a measuring cup.
And make sure your water is at least 65°, which is where the detergent becomes more effective.
Also, clothes don’t need to be washed every time they’re worn, depending. Like jeans rarely need washing. Underwear, t-shirts, socks, that sort of thing need to be washed all the time.
All you ever wanted to know about washing clothes: https://laundryevangelist.com/
Just to be clear is that 65° F or C?
Both don’t make a lot of sense. Celsius would be 18.3°. Fahrenheit however would be too much for a lot of clothes. I have never in my life washed hotter than 60°C.
Fahrenheit makes sense. The Tide website recommends washing at 16C minimum for regular detergent and 4C minimum for cold water detergent.
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Thousands of loads under my belt
And some on my face
Okay Beavis, Butthead, nap time!
Uhuhuh did you just say fap time? Uhuhuh
Generally you want the dirtiest part on the outside. I find for things like jeans, I leave them outside-out; T-shirts are often inside-out.
The other reason to turn things inside-out is if there are designs or other features that you want to protect.
In short, whatever is on the outside is going to get the “rougher” treatment.
I dont know any of the finer details but my thought and real practice is that when washing jeans, its better to wash them inside out and all zipped up + pockets out. Not sure where I heard it but I’ve always observed that
I only turn t-shirts with prints on them inside out. I also zip up zippers so they don’t abrade other things.
I’ve only been told to turn T-shirts or garments with dangling bits inside out, so that the friction of rubbing against the other clothes doesn’t wear off the print.
I don’t really see how turning stuff like hoodies inside out would affect anything, apart from maybe preventing the button/zipper from clanking around in the dryer (which admittedly IS very obnoxious)
Just about the only thing I remember was that my mom always said that one should zip them up and not leave the zipper open – specifically so that it does not clank around and perhaps scratch the washing machine drum or get its tiny teeth brush and the moving part tangled with other, softer garments.
Turning the hoodie inside out might mitigate that a little bit more, but not much…
My understanding is that the dryer has a much bigger impact than the washer, although turning things inside out between the washer and drier is a pain in the ass.
Screen prints will last longer because they don’t rub on other stuff as much when they are in the inside, especially in the drier where they also touch the hot drum. Some colors will last a bit longer inside out for the same reason. This was a much bigger deal when clothes bled more, but most newer dyes don’t have as much of an issue with current detergents.
I don’t worry about it except for the screen prints, just whichever way they ended up when taken off.
And pilling
I turn everything inside out because I line dry outside. Since UV bleaches fabric I’d rather fade the inside.
I usually dry inside and I make sure to turn stuff inside out before hanging it on the rack but I do it because I believe it dries better when things like pockets can be stretched out.
UV is a great point, I never realized that.
I’ve been washing clothes for many decades and although I was also taught to turn some clothes inside out, I’ve never noticed any difference if I didn’t and these days I’ll often wash with them oriented normally, mainly because that’s how I prefer to hang them in the cupboard or fold them into drawers and turning them when wet or after taking them off the line or out of the drier makes the whole process even more tedious than it already is.
because the inside is the part that touches you all day, and it’s where the stank is
So it looks like I’ve been doing it all wrong all the time. Especially with hoodies, there’s always a t-shirt under them, so the “dirtier” side of the hoodie is more likely to be the outside.
With jeans it’s kind of the same, assuming not too much sweating (and proper underwear turnaround).
well your bare legs are on the jeans… and i’m sure your underwear smell enough to pass by touch….
it depends on how much stain is on the outside… a lot of people almost never wash their jeans.
there’s also any printing, and and kind of wear would be better on the inside… like fuzziness or messing up stitches…. it basically keeps it looking newer.
i’m too lazy for all of that but i do always zip up any zippers so they don’t distort from each other when hot, or snag anything else.
All you ever wanted to know about washing clothes: https://laundryevangelist.com/
