• Air dry clothing to prevent wrinkles. Dry clean wool and other specialty fabrics to prevent clothing from unnessary damage.Clothes-pegs on clothes-line image by Oleg Mitiukhin from Fotolia.com
  
  Washing clothes may seem like a tedious task. To ease some of the anxieties that may go into liquid fabric washing or dry cleaning, be aware of which clothing fabrics and colors can tolerate regular or professional cleaning care. Always wash with an appropriate liquid cleaning detergent suitable for each pile of clothing.
  
  

Sorting Clothing

• Before attempting to wash fabric clothing, sort the clothing according to their fabric types and colors to prevent the clothes from getting stained or damaged. Always separate white clothing from colored and dark clothing. Place clothing according to their color and fabric in piles. Separate delicates--like silk and polyester--from lace apparel, towels and blankets, socks and underwear. Go through each pile, and read each article's labels so that you are aware of its washing instructions. Pay attention to items that require washing in cold or hot water only or clothing that requires no bleach or low to moderate heat.
  
  

Washing Cycles

• Apply the specified amount of liquid detergent as specified on the product label into an empty washing machine. Place the articles of clothing into the washing machine. Place lingerie and delicate clothing, such as silk and polyester, on the gentle cycle. Refrain from tossing wool clothing into the washer unless it's marked "washable wool." Place cotton clothes and more durable fabrics, such as denim, on the standard washing cycle.
  
  

Temperatures

• Wash dark clothing and cotton materials in cold water. According to Cleaning Tips, washing dark clothing in cold water prevents the material from bleeding. Use liquid fabric detergents that are formulated specifically for dark fabrics to help maintain the clothing's color. Wash delicates and fabrics susceptible to shrinkage in cool water, between 75 to 85 degrees F. Wash light-colored denim, wrinkle-free shirts and pants, synthetic fibers and light clothing in hot water temperatures no more than 105 degrees F.
  
  

Dryer and Dry Cleaning

• You can prevent dark clothing from fading easily by air drying. Place delicate clothing and certain underwear on a hanger and allow it to air dry; too much heat causes delicates to shrink and ruins the elasticity in most underwear, causing garments to twist or to shrink. Don't place wool garments in a dryer unless stated by the manufacturer. Take wool clothing and other clothes labeled "dry-clean only" to the cleaner's promptly. Place cotton clothing on a hot temperature between 150 and 200 degrees F. However, to keep cotton clothing from wrinkling, reduce the amount of time the clothes tumble dry. According to Cotton Inc., don't allow cotton garments to tumble dry for more than 5 to 15 minutes. To prevent cotton from forming heavy wrinkles, allow cotton materials to hang dry after the tumble cycle.