Doing laundry can be as easy or as difficult as you make it. A lot of advice is flying around on the best way to keep your whites white and your blacks fade free. Learning to do laundry is like learning anything else. You have to start with the basics before you can move up. So here are some tips to all the laundry-doers out there: the beginners, the intermediates and the advanced.

Beginner

• Sort your stuff: Many laundry problems can be prevented by checking your pockets first. Next, separate your clothes into three piles: whites, darks and lighter colors. Delicate things like nylons and tights should be washed separately. Most articles of clothing have tags that say how to wash them; check them also.

• Load your clothes appropriately: Your clothes should be completely covered with water no higher than the top of the agitator. This means no stuffing or jamming your clothes into the machine. This will only compact your clothes, which won’t allow detergent to get in.

• Picking the right cycle: Picking the right wash cycle and water temperature simply means following the label sewn into most clothing.

• Shrinkage: Don’t want something to shrink? Take it out of the washer and hang it up to dry. Sweaters should never be dried in the dryer. Remember that cotton, unless it specifically states “pre-shrunk,” will shrink one-half to one size.

Intermediate

• Washing sneakers: If you have fabric covered shoes like suede or canvas, scotch guard them before wearing. For worn-out tennis shoes, simply wash separately in a cold cycle and let them dry naturally. (Putting them in the dryer will make the insoles shrink and the shoe as well) Allow a couple of days to fully dry.

• Liquid paper and permanent marker stains: Apply some sunscreen onto the stain, then gently rub away the stain with a paper towel. You may have to repeat until the stain is gone.

• Dryer tips: Stop losing your socks (especially baby socks) to the dryer by putting your socks in a mesh bag before washing and drying. Pilling (the formation of little balls on clothes) is caused by clothes rubbing against each other while washing. To prevent pilling, turn clothes inside out.

• Grass stains: Combine a few drops of ammonia with one teaspoon hydrogen peroxide; vigorously rub the stain with the mixture and immediately rinse with water as soon as stain disappears.

Advanced

• Rust stains: These may seem hard to eliminate, but simply scrub the stain with crumpled aluminum foil.

• Ink stains: These stains can set deeply in a very short amount of time. Quickly place a towel underneath the clothing and put hairspray on the stain before washing. An alternative method is to wet the stain with cold water and apply a paste of cream of tartar and lemon juice. Let the mixture sit one hour and then wash as usual.

• Underarm deodorant stains: Dab on some white vinegar and wait approximately 30 minutes, depending on the severity of the stain. Then wash shirts in hot water.

• Down comforters and jackets: Stains on jackets should be pre-treated and then rinsed in water – using a toothbrush to scrub would be helpful. Wash the down comforters on gentle cycle with a mild detergent. Make sure that the down comforter is rinsed extremely well. If the down comforter does not fit in your dryer, most laundromats have larger dryers. Dry down comforters on fluff setting.