How to Wash Clothes Properly

After a long day at work, you come home to everyday demands and a growing pile of laundry. Don’t worry, though. Washing clothes properly doesn’t have to be time-consuming or complicated. With the right techniques, accurate detergent dosing, and the laundry care expertise gained over four generations, you can effortlessly transform soiled garments into fresh, hygienically clean favourites. Discover just how easy it is to achieve brilliant laundry results!

The first and most important step towards brilliantly clean clothes begins before you even start the washing machine. Sorting your laundry correctly helps protect fabric fibres and preserve colour vibrancy.

Start by separating your laundry into three main colour groups: whites, light colours (such as pastels and light grey), and dark or intensely coloured items (such as black, navy blue and red). This helps prevent dull grey discolouration on your white shirts and other light garments. If you are washing coloured textiles with white patterns and want extra peace of mind, simply place a Dr. Beckmann Colour & Dirt Collector Sheet directly into the drum. The sheet absorbs loose dyes from the wash water before they can settle onto other fabrics.

Besides colour, the fabric type is equally important. Sturdy cotton towels require different care from delicate silk blouses or breathable sportswear.

One of the most common reasons for poor washing results is an incorrectly loaded drum. The good news is that you do not need a scale to load your washing machine correctly, just a simple rule of thumb.

Place the sorted laundry loosely into the drum without pressing it down. For durable items such as cotton T-shirts, bed linen and towels, follow this golden rule: leave about a hand’s width of space between the top of the laundry and the top of the drum. This gives the garments enough room to move freely. Water and detergent can reach every fibre, while the mechanical action of the wash cycle helps remove dirt effectively.

If the drum is overloaded, sheets and other large items may become tangled, detergent may not be distributed evenly, and your laundry can come out stained or covered with white detergent residue. But can a washing machine be underloaded? Yes, that can happen too. With a nearly empty drum, you not only waste water and energy, but individual garments are also subjected to greater mechanical stress because they can hit the drum walls without being cushioned by other items.

One essential tip for extending the life of your clothes: always turn printed T-shirts, jeans and garments with appliqués inside out before washing. This helps protect delicate surfaces and designs. Also, make sure to fasten all zips and buttons to prevent them from snagging or tearing holes in other items.

Modern washing machines have a detergent drawer with three separate compartments. But which compartment is used for what? Using the correct compartment is essential, as it allows the machine to dispense each product at exactly the right stage of the wash cycle.

Compartment I (or A):
This compartment is reserved for the pre-wash cycle. You only need it for heavily soiled laundry, such as oily workwear or children’s clothes covered in dried mud. For everyday laundry, this compartment usually remains empty.

Compartment II (or B):
This is the main wash compartment. Add your regular detergent here, whether you use powder or liquid detergent. The washing machine dispenses the contents of this compartment at the start of the main wash cycle.

The compartment marked with a flower (or star symbol):
The smallest compartment is intended for liquid additives such as fabric softener or laundry sanitiser. The machine releases these products during the final rinse cycle so that their fragrance and fabric-care benefits remain on the fibres.

Pay close attention to the correct dosage. Using too much detergent can lead to excessive foam, may damage the machine’s hoses over time, and places an unnecessary burden on the environment. Always adjust the amount according to the level of soiling and the hardness of your local water. You can find detailed dosage instructions on every detergent package. Measure the detergent accurately in grams or millilitres rather than pouring it into the machine by eye.

It is also important to choose the right detergent. Universal detergents contain bleaching agents and optical brighteners, making them ideal for white laundry and helping to keep whites looking bright. For coloured garments, use a colour detergent, which does not contain bleach and instead relies on enzymes to clean the fibres while preserving the intensity of the colours.

Once the washing machine is loaded correctly and the detergent has been placed in the proper compartment, all that remains is selecting the right programme. The best choice depends on the fabric type and the level of soiling.

For everyday laundry, washing at lower temperatures has proven highly effective. Lightly soiled T-shirts, jumpers and trousers can be cleaned hygienically at 20°C to 30°C. Thanks to powerful surfactants and enzymes, modern detergents work exceptionally well even in cool water. By reducing the temperature from 40°C to 30°C, you can save a significant amount of energy, making it a responsible choice for both your home and the environment.

For this reason, it is worth using your machine’s eco programmes whenever possible. Although these cycles take longer because the water is heated more gradually, they are particularly resource-efficient and environmentally friendly.

For shirts, blouses and delicate fabrics, select the Easy Care or Delicates programme. These cycles use a higher water level and gentler drum movements to protect fibres and reduce creasing. For these fabrics, reduce the spin speed to a maximum of 800 rpm.

What should be washed at 60°C?
This temperature is recommended for items that require a higher level of hygiene. Bed linen, towels, washcloths, cleaning cloths and cotton underwear should be washed at 60°C to reliably remove bacteria and germs.

In modern households, 90°C washes are rarely necessary. Instead, run an empty hot wash once a month using a washing machine cleaner to help remove odours, detergent residues and deposits from inside the machine.

Even the best wash programme can struggle with stubborn, dried-on stains such as red wine, blood or grease. For tough stains, pre-treat the affected area with the appropriate Dr. Beckmann Stain Devils product before washing. For tailored advice on how to remove stubborn stains from your laundry while protecting the fabric, explore our Stain Removal Guide.