Sort clothes by compatible care instructions first, then by colour and fabric needs. Colour alone is not enough: a dark delicate top may require a different process from dark jeans. Read each label before deciding which garments can share a load.

Make an exceptions pile

Set aside items marked for separate washing, hand washing or another special process. Also separate garments whose care instructions you cannot identify. A full washing machine is not a good reason to guess a setting for an uncertain item.

Check newly purchased clothing rather than assuming it can join your usual load. Where a label warns about colour transfer or separate washing, follow that instruction. Turning an item inside out does not make incompatible colours or care requirements compatible.

Group the remaining items

Divide washable garments into suitable colour groups, then check their fabric and construction needs. Heavy items and delicate items may need different handling even when their colours match. Tide’s laundry guide also places care-label reading and sorting at the start of the process.

• Keep light items away from dark items that could transfer colour.
• Check whether any garment requires a gentler cycle than the others.
• Look for trims, prints or closures that need preparation.
• Keep items requiring special treatment out until you have a compatible plan.

Use a simple household example

Imagine a basket containing a white cotton tee, navy jeans, a dark delicate blouse and a new red top labelled wash separately. The two dark garments should not automatically form one load: the blouse’s instructions may differ from the jeans. The red top already has a separate instruction, and the white tee should not be added merely to fill space.

Write down the appropriate groups if several people share the laundry task. A label such as “dark clothes” is less useful than a group whose permitted cycle and temperature have actually been checked.

Prepare each garment

Empty pockets and inspect for objects or loose parts. Fasten or protect closures as the garment instructions require. Identify visible stains before starting so you can choose a label-compatible treatment if needed. Do not mix cleaning products or assume a stronger treatment is safer.

Check the load as a whole

Before starting, make sure the chosen programme is suitable for every garment in that load. Follow the machine’s capacity guidance and the detergent instructions. If one item does not fit the group’s care requirements, remove it rather than selecting a compromise that its label does not support.

Keep drying requirements in mind when unloading, because compatible washing does not mean identical drying instructions. For denim-specific preparation, see our dark jeans care guide. Keep the care information for new items from the clothing collection available for their first wash.