You likely know to sort your clothes by colour and weight, but do you know how to handle the items in each laundry load appropriately? Here are a few rules for washing apparel with buttons, zippers and strings.

Turn Your Clothes Inside Out

Washing and drying your clothes inside out protects them from discolouration—especially shirts with beads, graphics and other sewed or glued accessories. As the clothes swish and tumble in the machine, the friction can wear them down. By flipping them inside out, you preserve the outward facing parts of your clothing, keeping them looking new for longer.

Button Your Shirts Up

Many people worry that fastening their buttons will cause them to loosen or fall off in the laundry. Interestingly, the opposite is true. If you fail to button up your shirts, there is a greater likelihood of them snagging on other clothes and getting damaged. Doing up the buttons also allows you to effectively turn your clothes inside out.

Zip Your Zippers

Zippers can are abrasive in the wash because of their teeth. If washing your denim with lighter, more delicate fabrics, you should keep those zippers fastened for the sake of your other clothes in the cycle.

Tie Lose Strings

Make loose knots with any dangling strings or straps to stop them from wrapping around other clothing. Tangled clothes do not get sufficiently cleaned and can rip or stretch. Worse, loose strings can get caught in the machine and cause an array of mechanical issues.