6 Common Laundry Myths, Debunked

With the help of our friends at Steele Canvas—makers of durable, high-quality canvas baskets—we’re tackling all things laundry. Here, we’re debunking some of the most common laundry myths, from freezing jeans to separating lights and darks.

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For such a common household task, doing the laundry the right way can be unexpectedly confusing. From deciphering garments’ hard-to-decode care tags to concocting homemade stain-removal solutions, it can feel like everyone uses their own set of rules for cleaning—and maintaining—their clothes and home textiles. To demystify this seemingly simple chore, we’re coming clean about six of the most common and pervasive laundry myths.

1. More Detergent = Cleaner Clothes

Sometimes you want to avoid too much of a good thing. Though it’s essential to getting your clothes clean, using too much laundry detergent can cause your clothes to come out of the wash not fully rinsed out and still coated in detergent residue. As a result, your garments might feel stiff—even crunchy—rather than soft and supple. For a large load of laundry (weighing at least 12 pounds), you only need two tablespoons of detergent, says The New York Times.

2. Freeze Jeans to Kill Bacteria

It’s a fun thought, but sadly, the idea that freezing jeans can effectively clean them is a myth. While a trip to the freezer may temporarily eliminate odors from a dirty pair of jeans, the average home freezer is not cold enough to kill bacteria. If you’re concerned about the longevity of your denim, you’re better off only washing it when necessary, using a cold cycle, and hanging it to dry rather than throwing it in the dryer.

3. Separating Lights & Darks Is Most Important

Sorting your laundry according to color can be useful when you’re dealing with highly pigmented items, but it’s not always the most important guideline. Instead, it’s also worth considering the types of fabrics your garments are made from: Delicate items are best washed on gentle, whereas heavy duty fabrics can withstand a more intensive wash cycle.

Pro tip: If you want to make things easy on laundry day and have the space for it, use two hampers instead of one. That way, your laundry will always be sorted. (For this purpose, we’re fans of the 4BU from Steele Canvas’ Elevated Truck collection, which can be ordered with a canvas divider to keep different laundry categories separated.)

4. Washing Machines Don’t Need to Be Cleaned

It’s counterintuitive, because washing machines are the things that do the cleaning, but these appliances also need the occasional scrub-down. From mildew and mold to accumulations of laundry detergent and fabric softener, a not-clean washer will leave your clothes that way, too. According to most experts, cleaning your washing machine with a cup of vinegar or a special, store-bought cleanser every month or so should keep it in tip-top shape.

5. Cold Water Doesn’t Clean Effectively

If you’re under the impression that only hot or warm water can really remove the dirt and grime from your laundry, you might want to reconsider. Today, modern laundry detergents are formulated so that they are equally effective in hot and cold water, says Apartment Therapy. Moreover, it’s better for the planet: Not only do cold wash cycles require less energy, they’re also gentler on fabrics, can help your clothes last longer, and often allow you to wash in fewer loads (since there’s no need to separate hot- and cold-water items). If you’re tackling large loads of laundry, though, we recommend an elevated rolling cart—like the ones from Steele Canvas—to take some of the strain off your back.

6. Hairspray Can Remove Ink Stains

This one did used to be true, back when hairspray was made with enough alcohol to dissolve ink stains. Today, however, hairsprays typically contain very little (if any) alcohol, meaning they’re less than ideal for stain removal. Instead? Grab some rubbing alcohol and use it to gently blot the stain.

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What's your best laundry tip? Tell us in the comments!

Since 1921, Steele Canvas has been producing sturdy, U.S.-made utility products that work in any room of your home, whether you’re upgrading your laundry room, kitchen, or bedroom. A family-owned and -run business to this day, all of Steele Canvas’ baskets, trucks, and caddies are made to order in Massachusetts, using ultra-strong steel frames and durable, heavy-duty canvas. To find out more and see their full product line, head to Steele Canvas’ site.