Most of us treat the washing machine as a background appliance, not a lab instrument, yet the way we set it up can quietly decide how long our wardrobes survive. A growing body of research now points ...

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." A 2020 study found that washing clothes on shorter, cold cycles keeps garments looking newer. Researchers ...

Scientists from the University of Leeds—and, it should be mentioned, Procter & Gamble—say the best way to keep clothes looking fresh for as long as possible is to use the coldest, shortest wash cycle.

Procter & Gamble funded a study of wash cycle length that found colder and shorter is better for clothes. Fabric dye density and lifespan is separate from issues like germs and bacteria in the wash.