Q: I have never been taught the "hows" and "whys" of laundry. I do a batch of whites and towels (so I can bleach them) and then wash the rest together---all on warm/warm. What is the correct way to wash clothes?

Daryl: The "hows" and "whys" of laundry pose a really good question--one everyone has to deal with at some point if they don't want their white underwear, blouses, or shirts to turn pink or blue or green!

Your method of washing the whites and towels together so you can bleach them makes a lot of sense. Towels that have been washed several times don't usually bleed much color. Your results are probably very satisfactory.

I go a step, further, however, and wash my whites with only other whites-- entirely separate from anything else. I'm just extra fussy about our underwear and never take chances with it. I want to make certain it's always pure white. Even when it wears out, it is still as white as when it was new. It's a point of pride with me.

My mother used to say to me, "Nylon cannot belong to any church, because it steals colors." There's something about man-made fabrics that can cause them to take on color, and they gradually pick up a grayish or yellowish cast. Also, when bleaching whites, you should select a bleach that is okay for synthetic fabrics otherwise it will also add to their turning a slight yellow hue.

However, the old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," holds true for you. If your whites are coming out of the laundry white, then just continue the way you are.

This is a long way to get to a short answer: whatever works best for you is what you should do! I admire you for exercising care and concern in your household duties. Please feel free to write again if you have further questions, concerns, or ideas to share.

Best wishes!