How to Clean Clothes for Sale

Select the clothes that will be sold from your closet or garage. Lay the garments on a table or laundry counter to inspect each garment for signs of damage or stubborn stains. Clothes with signs of severe wear are less likely to entice buyers. Set damaged clothes aside from gently used garments to recycle or to use for household projects.

Separate all clothes according to color, for example navy blue garments can be washed with black garments. However, avoid mixing colored clothing with red garments, as the red dye may bleed onto colored garments. Instead, wash colored clothing that is similar to red, such as orange and fuchsia, along with red clothes. Set aside clothes that contain stains as well, so you can spray the stains with a stain fighting solution before washing.

Turn all garments inside out. Wash dark and colored clothing with cold water, and white garments with warm water. Use mild detergent to wash all garments. Follow the instruction label on the detergent bottle to figure the amount of detergent needed for each load of clothing and type of washer. For example, high efficiency washing machines may require less detergent than a standard washing machine.

Dry fabrics, such as denim and cotton, under medium heat in the dryer. Hang delicate garments, such as silk and woven sweaters outdoors to air dry. Drying delicate fabrics in the dryer may cause damage to the fibers, making the garments unappealing to the buyer.

Hang blouses, sweaters and dresses on hangers, and set the garments in an open area of the home that is free of moisture. Hang pants and skirts by the waistband to prevent wrinkling the fabric. Maintain the garments on hangers until the date of the sale.