DON’T OVERLOAD

Washers have become wider, deeper and taller, but don’t jam your entire wardrobe into the drum. “When we overstuff, the clothes and detergent can’t circulate enough,” says Keith Flamer, laundry expert for Consumer Reports. Check the manual. The recommended load size might be smaller than you think.

DRIZZLE THE DETERGENT ​

Washing machines use high-efficiency detergent now, which means you don’t need more than 2 tablespoons in a full load, says Patric “Laundry Evangelist” Richardson, host of The Laundry Guy show on Discovery+. In fact, using too much can work against you. Excess detergent may not fully drain in the rinse cycle. “The soap is doing its job, but it doesn’t get rinsed out, so it resettles into your clothes—with the dirt,” Richardson says. ​

GET COMFY WITH COLD

Hot water doesn’t have supercleaning power, and it can cause stains to set in. ​Consumer Reports tested stain removal at various temperatures and found that cooler water was more effective.

TAKE CARE WITH ATHLETIC WEAR

If you’re an exerciser, add oxygen bleach to a load with workout clothes, Richardson says. Also known as sodium percarbonate, the product helps remove sweat stains.

SKIP THE SOFTENER

Flamer says liquid fabric softeners or dryer sheets can do more harm than good. “Most people like soft clothes, but they can leave a layer of residue,” he says.​ Instead, use dryer balls; they are typically made of wool and prevent laundry from clumping together. —Jodi Helmer