GarmentCare Guide 
Sorting Laundry by Fabric
Sorting by color is useful, but fabric weight and care requirements are equally important. Heavy items can abrade fine cloth, and pieces with different temperature or spin requirements may be poor companions. Build a load around compatible instructions, then consider soil level and new dyes rather than using the basket's overall appearance as the only guide.
Color is the first decision
Ariel explains how dye transfer can change the appearance of lighter clothing and recommends separating whites, light shades, dark shades, and delicates. A small quantity from one group is not a reason to combine incompatible items. The aim is to avoid a wash method that protects one garment while harming another.
Then consider fabric and soil
Delicate cloth, denim, and other heavy textiles may need different temperatures and wash action. Heavily soiled items can also require pretreatment or a different cycle from lightly worn clothing. Looking at all these requirements produces a more useful sorting system than a simple basket split based only on whether an item is white.
