Generally, not. It is not completely safe to wash light-colored with dark-colored as it may result in dye-transfer problems.
Many expert recommend sorting and segregating laundry before starting the wash. Sorting clothes allows you to use different cycle types as well as different water temperatures. Also, sorting clothes decreases the chances that a garment is going to bleed onto another when you control cycle type and water temperature.
There are several distinct piles to sort clothes into, such as whites, darks, lights, jeans and delicates.
Whites: White t-shirts, white underwear, white socks and other similar items fall into this category. This pile is for white sturdy cottons that can withstand normal agitation in the washer on a warm or hot wash cycle.
Darks: Grays, blacks, navies, reds, dark purples and similar colors are sorted into this load.
Lights: More pastel-type colors such as pinks, lavenders, light blues, lights greens and yellows are placed in this pile of laundry.
Jeans: All items with denim material are washed together in this load.
Delicates: This category includes several types of clothing – l!ngerie, pantyhose, washable silks, and any clothing you’d like to keep from the harsh agitation of the washer.
Check out more laundry basics from these sites:
- Mama's Laundry Talk
- DIY Network
Speaking of laundry, Consumer Reports tested more than 50 liquids, powders, and pods. Also included in the tests—two laundry systems that claim to clean without detergent. They are the $300 pureWash and the $400 Wash It. Both mount on the wall above your washer and inject ozone into your wash water. Find out what's the best laundry detergent here.