Avoid overloading to reduce friction

Load the washing machine to about three-quarters capacity for colored loads. Clothes need space to move freely through the water without pressing tightly against each other.

Why It Works

Overcrowded drums create excessive fabric-on-fabric friction, which physically scrapes dye from fiber surfaces. The friction is especially damaging to dark colors and prints. Proper spacing also ensures detergent and rinse water reach all surfaces evenly.

Tips

• A loosely filled drum with room for your fist on top is about right
• Two smaller loads preserve color better than one overstuffed load
• Front-loaders generally cause less friction than top-loaders at the same fill level