Expert consulted: 
Even if you separate your laundry by color (a must!), you might still toss clothes into the machine without much thought. But small changes in how you wash certain items can keep them looking newer, longer. Experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Home Care & Cleaning Lab say that turning specific garments inside out can help them get cleaner and prevent the type of fading, pilling, and abrasion that can lead to premature wear and tear.
Ahead, the key items that deserve this extra care—and why flipping them inside out can make all the difference:
Jeans
Denim—particularly dark denim—is notorious for fading and showing wear along hems, pockets, and waistbands. Whether your jeans are brand new or a favorite worn-in pair, flip them before tossing them in the wash to minimize abrasion, help preserve color, and prevent fraying. Don’t forget to zip zippers and fasten buttons or snaps, too, so they hold their shape and don't snag on other items.
Embellished Items
Items like shirts, sweaters, or jackets with buttons, zippers, studs, sequins, or other hardware should always be washed inside out. Doing so not only protects the garment itself from damage—torn off hardware, for example—but also keeps other delicate fabrics in the load from snagging, fraying, or pilling.
Shirts, Sweatshirts, and Jerseys With Decals
Any garment with prints, decals, or embroidery benefits from an inside-out wash. Flipping these items minimizes wear on the designs. helping keep colors vibrant and preventing peeling
Washable Reusable Grocery Bags
Reusable bags can accumulate dirt and spills with regular use, and washing them inside out ensures the dirtiest surfaces get exposed to detergent and water.
Leggings and Other Athleisure
Leggings, sports bras, and other athletic wear are prone to pilling and snagging. They also tend to accumulate sweat and body oils on the inside during workouts, making the interior dirtier than the exterior. Washing these items inside out protects the fabric from friction, keeps colors looking fresh longer, and ensures the dirtiest parts get properly cleaned.
Socks
It might seem counterintuitive, but in some cases, turning socks inside out may actually help get them cleaner. Sweat and body oils accumulate on the inside, so flipping them exposes the dirtiest part to water and detergent. There is one exception, though: Socks that are especially dirty on the outside, like sports socks or ones worn around the house without shoes.
Brigitt is a writer, editor and craft stylist with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in lifestyle topics, including home, health, parenting, beauty, style, food, entertaining, travel and weddings. She has written for Glamour, People, Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, and more.
Carolyn Forté brings more than 40 years of experience as a consumer products expert to her role as executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Home Care and Cleaning Lab. Using deep analytical testing and writing expertise in appliances, cleaning, textiles and organizational products, she produces cleaning and home care advice for GH, has authored numerous books and bookazines for the brand and partners with the American Cleaning Institute to co-produce the Discover Cleaning Summits. She holds a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences from Queens College, City University of New York.
