When to turn clothes inside out
Short answer: Turn dark clothes, anything knitted and anything with a print inside out before washing. It protects colour and moves lint to the side that is not seen. It takes seconds per garment and helps clothes look newer for longer.
Turn it inside out before washing
Before the laundry goes into the machine, it pays to turn some garments inside out. That applies to dark clothes, anything knitted and anything with a print. It takes seconds per garment but moves the wear from the visible side to the hidden one. Here is why and how.
Colour
Colour wears most on the side that rubs against the drum. Inside out, the wear hits the inner side, and the outside keeps looking dark for many more washes. This matters most for black, navy and other dark shades, where faded colour shows at once. Turn the garment and dark colours last longer.
Lint
Lint forms on the side that rubs against the drum and other clothes. Inside out, it ends up on the inside where it is not seen, so the garment looks newer for longer. That helps most on knitwear and soft fabrics, where lint quickly gives a worn look. See bamboo t-shirts for men.
Prints
A print that rubs against the drum cracks and comes off in flakes. Inside out, the print touches nothing and lasts many more washes. If you have a t-shirt or sweatshirt with a motif on the chest, this is the simplest way to protect it. See bamboo sweatshirts for men and bamboo clothing for women.
Anything knitted
Knitted fabric is soft and stretchy but also sensitive to rubbing. Threads can loosen, and the surface can pill. Inside out, the surface that takes the wear is the side you do not see. That makes wash day gentler on knitwear and keeps the tidy look for longer.
Zips and buttons
Zips can snag other clothes in the drum. Close them and turn the garment so they do not catch or pull at anything else. The same goes for buttons and other hard details. That protects the garment itself and the rest of the laundry in the drum.
What about white
White clothes do not need turning for the colour, so it matters less here. It still reduces lint, because lint ends up inside instead of outside. If you want a clean, even look it remains a good habit, but it is not decisive as it is for dark clothes and printed ones.
The tumble dryer
The rule applies in the tumble dryer too, for the same reason. The drum rubs the same way, and heat adds to the wear. Hanging to dry is still the gentlest option, but if you use the dryer, leave the garment inside out. That protects colour and print, even if heat strains the fibres.
How to do it
Turn the garments while you sort the laundry, so it is done before they go in the machine. Shake them out and check pockets and zips. After drying you can turn them back. It becomes a habit that costs almost no time and helps clothes look new for longer.
Frequently asked questions
Should white be turned too
It matters less, but it reduces lint. The lint ends up inside instead of outside, and the garment looks tidier. Colour is not the issue for white, so do it if you have the time.
Does it apply in the tumble dryer too
Yes, for the same reason. The drum rubs the outside the same way, and heat adds to the wear. Hanging to dry is gentlest, but if you use the dryer, leave the garment turned.
What about zips
Close them and turn the garment so they do not snag other clothes. Open zips can catch threads and pull at the fabric, both on the garment itself and on the laundry beside it in the drum.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
