Leaving zippers open and buttons fastened before putting clothes in the washing machine can damage wardrobes across Spain. Laundry specialists warn that these oversights can cause snags and tears, along with fading or premature wear. A few seconds of preparation can often prevent the problems.
Chemical engineer Diego Fernández, known online as @renovandoconideas, says preparing clothes before washing matters alongside fabric quality and detergent choice. Inside the drum, garments repeatedly move and rub against one another, creating friction and contact that can stress fabrics and closures.
Zippers: Close Before Washing
One common laundry precaution is to close zippers before washing. Fernández describes zippers, whether metal or rigid plastic, as “highly abrasive.” Left open, their teeth can catch on other garments and snag delicate fibers, potentially accelerating wear on lightweight fabrics, including shirts and blouses.
Specialists from Al Sako Electrodomésticos also warn that an open zipper can snag fine clothing and may scratch the washing machine’s door or interior surfaces. The team at Ringlete advises closing zippers fully so their teeth are not exposed during the wash cycle. LG’s product-support guidance likewise recommends closing zippers and turning garments inside out. It also advises emptying pockets and removing detachable accessories. The manufacturer notes that sounds from laundry moving and closures striking one another can be heard during a wash cycle.
Buttons: Follow the Garment’s Care Guidance
Button advice depends on the garment, so leaving every button undone is not a universal rule. Fernández and Al Sako Electrodomésticos recommend unfastening shirts, particularly around collars and cuffs, to reduce pulling and twisting on button threads and seams. LG, but, advises consumers to button clothes before washing, while SIMON’s denim-care guidance says to fasten jeans’ buttons and zippers. Check the care label and garment construction, then follow the washing instructions for that item.
Home journalist Lucía Garrido recommends turning clothes inside out before washing to protect their visible surfaces from friction, helping colors and finishes last longer, including printed designs. This can be especially useful for garments with delicate decoration or a finish that could rub against other items.
Washing relies on movement and friction to clean fabrics. Turning clothes inside out puts the inner surface, where sweat and dirt often collect, toward the wash action. This includes areas such as the underarms, collars and cuffs, while the outer face stays shielded from some abrasion.
Other parts of the wash routine matter too. For lightly soiled clothes, experts recommend short cycles of 30 to 40 minutes. Keep the drum no more than two-thirds full, and separate heavy fabrics such as denim from delicate items. Mesh laundry bags can help protect fine garments, including underwear and bras, from snags and deformation. SIMON’s care guidance also recommends using a gentle cycle and laundry bag for machine-washable denim, with a wash temperature no higher than 40°C. It advises cold water for general garments where appropriate, and turning items inside out to reduce friction.
Talent24h reports that these adjustments can make a noticeable difference to how clothes look after repeated washes. Fabric and detergent matter, but temperature and friction also affect wear. Cycle choice and drying conditions matter as well. Preparing garments information from their care labels, and securing closures as their instructions recommend, can help keep them in good condition for longer.
