Washing laundry correctly

In short: Correct laundry washing not only protects the environment and your wallet but also significantly extends the lifespan of clothing. The right combination of temperature, detergent, and programme makes the biggest difference.

In more detail: Modern detergents and washing machines are so efficient that significantly lower temperatures than in the past are sufficient for normally soiled laundry.

In detail

• Sorting by colour: Washing light, dark, and coloured textiles separately prevents discolouration from bleeding dyes.
• Temperature choice: 30 to 40 degrees is enough for most everyday laundry; only heavily soiled or hygienically critical textiles need higher temperatures.
• Detergent dosage: Too much detergent doesn’t improve the washing result but can leave residue in clothing and the machine.
• Full detergent versus colour detergent: Full detergents contain bleach for white laundry, while colour detergents protect colours and prevent fading.
• Loading the machine: A full but not overloaded drum ensures optimal mechanical cleaning effect and energy efficiency.
• Observing care labels: The care symbols on the label give binding guidance on maximum temperature, allowed spin speed, and drying method.
• Regular machine maintenance: Empty hot wash cycles and cleaning the detergent compartment and seals prevent odour formation and mould in the machine (waesche-pflegesymbole-lesen, gerueche-in-der-wohnung-beseitigen).