6 Things You Should Always Wash Inside Out

From workout gear to sleepwear, your wardrobe will thank you for washing these garments inside out.

At its most simple, doing laundry involves putting clothes in the washer, then transferring them to the dryer, a rack, or a line. But ensuring clothes come out undamaged and as clean as possible, calls for some prep work, like pre-treating stains or placing delicate items in a protective mesh bag. Another way to protect clothing is to turn some garments inside out. It might sound like an annoying extra step to take, but turning certain types of clothing inside out before washing them offers several benefits.

Washing clothing inside out will protect against color loss, which is particularly important for dark and brightly colored clothing. It also washes away the buildup of body soils, leaving fabrics cleaner and fresher smelling. Additionally, clothing with beading or other embellishments, including delicate buttons, can benefit from being washed inside out to protect against damage. Read on to find out what you should always wash inside out.

1. Dark Clothing, Including Dark Denim

Black and dark-colored clothing, including dark denim, fade over time because of exposure to water and detergent. Abrasion can contribute to fading and color loss, too, so washing dark clothes inside out can help preserve color by creating a gentler washing experience. Additionally, it’s best to wash dark fabrics in cold water and use a no-heat drying cycle. Air-drying dark clothing away from direct sunlight also helps protect against fading.

Related: How Often Should You Wash Jeans?

2. Brightly Colored and Printed Fabrics

Like dark clothing, brightly colored and printed fabrics can fade over time thanks to repeated exposure to water, detergents and stain removers, and friction. Turning these fabrics inside out before washing will help to preserve the color and patterns, preventing them from taking on a dingy appearance due to repeated washing. Washing in cold water and avoiding high-heat drying can also help to protect brightly colored and patterned fabrics from fading.

3. Workout Clothing and Athleisure

There are several good reasons to wash workout gear and athleisure, including leggings, inside out. Tight-fitting clothes, especially when worn for exercise, will benefit from the deeper clean that happens when the inside of clothing is exposed to more water, detergent, and mechanical action in the wash. It is one of the most effective ways to ensure sweaty workout gear comes out of the wash smelling fresh, by targeting odor-causing bacteria that can build up on the inside of clothing.

Turning exercise clothing inside out also helps prevent fading as a result of abrasion and dye transfer. Finally, turning gym clothes inside out will protect the fabric against pilling, snagging, and other textural damage.

4. Pajamas, Underwear, and Socks

Like workout clothing, the inside of pajamas, underwear, and socks is where the presence of body soils like sweat and dead skin is at its highest concentration. Turning these intimate items inside out before washing them will ensure they come out as clean as possible by flushing out body soils like dead skin and sebum, as well as odor-causing bacteria. It will also help to protect delicate fabrics like fine cottons from pilling, and prevent damage to decorative elements like buttons or embroidery.

Tips

If socks—or any garment—have visible dirt or hair, including and especially pet hair, it’s best to wash them right-side. This allows water and detergent to make direct contact with the dirtiest side of the item.

5. Sweat- and Deodorant-Stained Garments

Washing clothing inside out allows the water and detergent to make more contact with the sweat and deodorant that quickly builds up on the armpit of shirts, blouses, pullovers, and other tops. If you find your shirts often come out of the wash with visible stains, waxy buildup, or a stiff, cardboard-like texture, making the switch to washing them inside out may be an easy solution.

6. Delicate Fabrics Prone to Pilling or Snagging

Turning clothes inside out can protect delicate fabrics by reducing abrasion caused by rough fabrics, zippers, buttons, hooks, and other embellishments. In addition to washing delicate fabrics inside out, place them in a protective mesh bag, wash them with other similar fabrics, and avoid including bulky, heavy, or embellished items in the load to cut down on the amount of friction pill-prone fabrics are exposed to, as well as damage caused by snagging.

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