Avoid overloading the washing machine

Fill the washing machine to about three-quarters capacity for white loads. Clothes need room to circulate freely through the water and detergent for effective cleaning.

Why It Works

When the drum is too full, clothes cannot move enough for detergent and water to reach all surfaces. Soil and detergent residue get trapped in folds rather than rinsing away, leaving whites looking gray and dingy over time. Proper loading also ensures thorough rinsing, which prevents residue buildup.

Tips

• A good test: you should be able to fit your hand between the clothes and the top of the drum
• Overloading also increases wrinkling and uneven wear
• Smaller, more frequent loads of whites stay brighter than large, infrequent ones