How should I prepare clothes before washing?

Before washing, sort clothes into loads by care label, water temperature, spin speed, and fabric type. Separate whites from darks, and lint producers from lint collectors. Check all pockets for items like nails, hair clips, matches, pens, coins and keys that can damage the washer. Close zippers, hooks and strings to prevent snagging. Pre-treat stains by brushing diluted detergent onto areas like collars and cuffs. (Page 12)