Can You Wash Black and White Clothes Together? Laundry Pros Say It Depends

With the laundry day comes the tedious chore of separating all your clothing darks and whites. After all, black shirts and white dresses are two items that should never go in the washing machine together, right? But this task can feel pretty pointless if you’ve never noticed any dye transfer problems between your clothing before.

And while washing black and white clothing together can still be a risk—both for the look and durability of your items—there are a few creative ways to wash both colors in the same load.

Here’s what the experts have to say about washing black and white clothing together.

Can You Wash Black and White Clothes Together?

“In most cases, I do not recommend washing black and white clothes together, as it can lead to color transfer or dulling of the white garments,” says Tom Ceconi, a laundry expert and president of Heritage Park Laundry.

That’s because dark fabrics can release excess dye during the washing process, which can leech itself onto white clothing and leave it looking not-so-white.

This applies to tumble-drying black and white items together too.

“Lint from black fabrics can stick to white garments and vice versa, creating a messy appearance,” says Ceconi.

But you’re not entirely out of luck if you need to machine wash black and white shirts in the same laundry load.

“If certain precautions are taken—like using cold water, color catchers, and gentle detergent—it’s possible to wash them together with minimal risk,” notes Ceconi.

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What Black and White Clothes Can Be Washed Together?

Some black and white clothing can be easily washed alongside one another, while other types need to steer clear of the other color. These are the types of black and white clothing that experts say can typically be washed with the opposite color.

• Replaceable items: “If I’m just wearing something around the house or for basic activities, I won’t put in as much effort to keep these items looking brand new,” says Shara Ryan, a home and organizing expert at Simply Renewed Living. She adds that “because it might be something I sweat in or get stained,” it’s less important to her to keep those clothes bright white or deep black.
• Colorfast clothing: If you’ve washed certain black items over and over again with few dye transfer problems, Ceconi says you can consider these pieces colorfast and wash them with lighter-colored items.
• Patterned clothing: “Black-and-white patterned clothing (like stripes or prints) are typically safe to wash together since they are designed with mixed colors,” says Ceconi.

Don’t wash black and white clothing together if it’s new or if the pieces are especially expensive. Ryan gives the example of a high-end white shirt she purchased for a special occasion.

“I want to ensure it stays nice and white and lasts a long time. I’m most likely only going to hand wash this item by itself.”

Tips for Washing Black and White Clothes Together

Before you place those navy dress pants and white blouse in the same load, follow these tips to keep things colorfast and clean.

Use Cold Water

Cool water is gentler on most clothing, and it minimizes the risk of dye transfer, too. Ceconi recommends running a cool water wash cycle when washing black and white clothing in the same load.

Add a Color Catcher

Ryan likes to use color catcher laundry sheets and place them in the washing machine close to any items that might bleed, as a just-in-case preventative.

Color-catching laundry sheets work by trapping and absorbing any dye in the water before it can be transferred onto another piece of clothing.

Run the Gentle Cycle

Your washing machine’s gentle cycle (AKA, its permanent press cycle) is another way to ensure the dyes on those deep-black dresses and shirts stay on those items. Ceconi shares that the gentle cycle reduces agitation, which can loosen dyes and cause damage.

Remember Not to Tumble-Dry

Once the washing machine completes its cycle, don’t put all of its items immediately into the dryer. Darker items can shed lint in the dryer, leaving lighter pieces of clothing covered in unsightly fuzz.

Remove thicker sweater, jackets, and other lint-prone items and place them on a drying rack to air-dry instead.