What Are the 3 Types of Laundry?

The word “laundry” can refer to the clothing, to the cleaning process itself, or to the place where it is done, such as a laundry room (sometimes called a tvattstuga in Finnish), a laundromat, or a public wash-house (in some cities these were combined with baths). The cleaning process involves washing with water containing detergents, agitation, rinsing, drying, pressing (ironing) and, occasionally, sanitizing.

What Are the 3 Types of Laundry?

Most modern laundry service chemicals contain surfactants, which are wetting agents that allow other detergent ingredients to penetrate fabric fibers and dissolve dirt and stains. They also work to neutralize odors and reactivate any bleach that has been used in the wash cycle.

Detergents may also contain enzymes, such as proteases, which break down proteins found in organic stains like grass or the soil lines that appear on shirts from repeated contact with skin.

In addition to separating laundry by color, it is important to separate bulky items like blankets and towels from smaller clothing items like socks and shirts. This is to prevent fugitive dye transfer from darks turning lighter colors dingy or even staining them, like the proverbial red sock that gets mixed into a white load of laundry.

Separating the wash by fabric type is also a good idea, especially for stretchy fabrics like Spandex and sweat-wicking athletic apparel, as well as linens, wools and other heavy cottons that are prone to lint accumulation. This helps to extend the lifespan of these items and reduces the amount of time that is needed for them to dry.