Avoid overloading the drum to reduce friction

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

Why It Works

Overcrowded drums force excessive fabric-on-fabric contact, which physically scrapes dye from fiber surfaces. This friction is especially damaging to dark colors and screen prints. Proper spacing also lets detergent and rinse water reach all surfaces evenly, improving cleaning without extra agitation.

Tips

• If you can fit your fist on top of the loosely loaded clothes, the fill level is about right
• Two moderate loads preserve color better than one overstuffed load
• Front-loaders generally produce less abrasion than top-loaders at the same fill level