DhobiLite’s founder and CEO, Nishant Tripathi, was recently featured in Hindustan Times, sharing the garment-care mistakes he sees most often and how they quietly damage clothes over time. In his words: “Consumers invest significant time and money in building their wardrobes, but simple mistakes in washing, drying and storing clothes can reduce the lifespan of fabrics, affect their appearance and lead to unnecessary replacement costs.” Here’s his full nine-point breakdown, expanded with more detail on each.
His core observation is worth repeating: most garment damage isn’t caused by regular wear. It’s caused by improper maintenance. Colour fading, fabric shrinkage, loss of shape, unpleasant odours, and weakened fibres are usually the result of incorrect laundry practices, not the quality of the garment itself.
1. Understand the Fabric Before Washing
Every fabric has unique characteristics and requires specific care. Cotton, linen, silk, wool, denim, and synthetic blends respond differently to water temperature, detergents, and drying methods. The care label attached to every garment provides essential information on washing, drying, and ironing. Understanding fabric first prevents the most common risks: shrinkage, colour bleeding, and unnecessary fabric damage.
2. Use the Right Water Temperature
Selecting the correct water temperature is one of the simplest ways to preserve the colour, shape, and durability of garments. Washing at temperatures that are too high can cause shrinkage, colour fading, and unnecessary wear, while the right temperature helps fabrics retain their quality for longer. As a general rule: 20-30°C (cold water) suits silk, wool, denim, and other delicate fabrics, since cold water minimises colour bleeding and protects delicate fibres. 30-40°C (warm water) works well for cotton, linen, and synthetic blends, removing everyday dirt and sweat while staying gentle on daily-wear fabrics.
3. Use the Right Amount of Detergent
Excess detergent leaves residue on fabric, making garments feel stiff and trapping dirt and odours over time. It can also reduce the efficiency of the washing machine itself. Using the recommended quantity according to load size and water hardness ensures effective cleaning while actually protecting the fabric, rather than working against it.
4. Separate Clothes by Fabric Type, Not Just Colour
Sorting laundry by colour alone isn’t enough. Heavy garments like denim and towels should ideally be washed separately from lightweight fabrics like shirts and delicate clothing. Washing garments of very different weights together increases friction, which causes pilling, stretching, and premature wear. Delicate fabrics should go through gentle cycles or be hand-washed wherever the label recommends it.
5. Avoid Overwashing
Not every garment needs washing after a single use. Frequent washing exposes fabrics to repeated mechanical action, detergent chemicals, and water, all of which gradually weaken fibres. Clothing that hasn’t been exposed to excessive sweat or visible stains may simply need airing before its next wear, not a full wash cycle.
6. Dry Clothes Correctly
Leaving clothes inside the washing machine after a wash cycle encourages bacterial growth and unpleasant odours. Storing garments before they’re completely dry can result in mildew and fungal growth. Wherever possible, dry garments in a well-ventilated area with good air circulation – during the monsoon, airflow matters even more than direct sunlight. Heavy garments like towels, denim, and jackets need extra drying time before being folded or stored away.
7. Store Garments Properly
Wardrobes should stay clean, dry, and well ventilated. Clothes shouldn’t be packed tightly, since restricted airflow encourages moisture buildup, especially in humid weather. Structured garments like blazers should hang on sturdy hangers, while knitwear is best folded to prevent stretching. Seasonal clothing should be cleaned thoroughly before long-term storage, so stains don’t have time to become permanent.
8. Pay Special Attention to Premium Garments
Formal wear, silk sarees, embroidered outfits, woollens, and designer garments often need specialised care because of their fabric and construction. These should always be maintained according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. For fabrics that need specialised cleaning to preserve colour, texture, and shape, professional garment-care services are often the safer option over a home wash.
9. Maintain the Washing Machine Itself
Garment care also depends on the condition of the machine doing the washing. Detergent residue, lint, and moisture can build up inside the drum, detergent tray, and rubber seals, which affects washing performance and adds unpleasant odours of its own. Routine maintenance and periodic cleaning of the machine directly improve both hygiene and cleaning results.
The Bigger Picture
As Nishant put it, “Simple habits such as following care labels, washing garments appropriately, drying them thoroughly, and storing them correctly can significantly improve garment longevity.” Garment care isn’t only about cleanliness. It’s equally about preserving fabric quality, improving hygiene, and extending how long clothes actually stay wearable. If keeping up with all nine habits sounds like a lot to manage on your own, that’s exactly the gap a professional laundry and dry cleaning service is built to close – correct water temperature, correct detergent dosage, correct drying, every time, without you having to track it yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the most common laundry mistake that damages clothes?
According to DhobiLite founder Nishant Tripathi, using the wrong water temperature is one of the most common and most damaging mistakes. Washing at temperatures too high for the fabric causes shrinkage, colour fading, and unnecessary wear, even when every other step is done correctly.
2. Is it bad to wash clothes after every single wear?
Yes, for most garments. Overwashing exposes fabric to repeated mechanical action, detergent chemicals, and water, which gradually weakens fibres. Clothing that hasn’t picked up sweat or visible stains often just needs airing out, not a full wash.
3. Why do my clothes smell even after washing?
Two common causes: leaving clothes in the washing machine after the cycle ends, which encourages bacterial growth, and detergent residue, lint, or moisture buildup inside the machine’s drum, tray, or rubber seals. Both are fixed by drying garments promptly and cleaning the machine itself periodically.
4. How should silk sarees and other premium garments be washed?
Premium garments like silk sarees, embroidered outfits, and woollens need specialised care based on their specific fabric and construction, always following the manufacturer’s care instructions. For fabrics that are especially delicate, professional garment-care services are usually the safer choice over a home wash.
5. What water temperature should I use for cotton clothes?
Cotton, along with linen and synthetic blends, does well in warm water around 30-40°C. This effectively removes everyday dirt and sweat while staying gentle enough for regular daily-wear fabrics.
