While bringing dirty clothes home to mom is a classic freshman move, at some point we all need to learn our way around the laundry basket. Because, as almost any responsible parent will tell you, learning how to do laundry properly not only saves time and money, it reduces your environmental footprint.

Cleaning expert Jolie Kerr helped us compile a list of tips to help keep your wardrobe in tip-top shape.

1. Pick Permanent Press

A washing machine has two main controls: cycle length and cycle speed, which determine how long and hard the machine will work. Use shorter, slower cycles for delicate clothing, and longer, faster cycles (called “regular”) for heavily soiled items. The phrase “permanent press” may lead you to think, “Oh, that’s advanced washing. I don’t need that.” But according to Kerr, the permanent press setting is perfect for almost all your clothes. The wash cycle is fast, but has a slow spin cycle to prevent wrinkling.Cold is the New Hot.

2. Cold is the New Hot

There’s also a water temperature gauge on your washer. Cold water is perfect for all of your laundry as hot water fades colors and requires a lot of energy. You might have heard it’s best to wash whites in hot water, but that’s simply an old wives’ tale. Decades ago detergents had trouble dissolving, so light colors were washed in hot water. Today, detergents are strong enough that cold water can be used for basically any wash, meaning you don’t need to separate laundry based on color.

3. Be Gentle with that Dryer

Newsflash: Most of you are probably over-drying your clothes, which leads to shrinking and fraying. The “regular” setting actually shouldn’t be used on the regular, because it’s only meant for thick cottons like towels. Our new friend permanent press comes in handy for your clothes and sheets, since it has a cool-down period. If you’re still in doubt, air-drying your clothes is free and much gentler on fabrics.