Less than two years ago my dryer of a couple decades went out and last year my washer from the same time period went out. I have fairly new washer-dryer. My washer adjusts itself according to the amount of clothes. It is hard to get it to even give me any water with only one item (such as a scarf or blouse). I usually save those very small items like one pair of panty hose or one scarf and wash them together. In a week I will have several items of wash separately either in nylons, blouses, nice T's or even a nice pair of white pants. That also counts for my camisoles or tanks which are worn often of light colors. If they are all light beige, neutral, ivory or white then I put them together and that is maybe/maybe not "separately," but it is with like colors and synthetic and/or sensitive-type fabrics.
I wear enough black in a week to have a load at the end of the week of pants, skirts, cardigans, camisoles, etc. When I say load, I do not mean an overwhelmingly large load, but enough that my washer can sense there are clothes in there and wet them adequately. A very small item like a pair of panty hose would not be sensed so I would get no water.
So that may not be individually but it is separately with like colors and fabrics. I do not use hot water except on towels and bed linens, etc.
I turn my washer to adequate setting such as hand wash, wrinkle control, tap water, etc. It figures it out from there. Dryer does not get panty hose, silk, etc.
Most dress pants and more expensive tops are placed on felt hangers and allowed to be near-dry when tossed into the dryer for no more than 2 minutes on a less hot setting to remove wrinkles.
I do not use chlorine bleaches - ever, but I use vinegar in my "smelly" items or items that are next to the body, such as underwear, bed linens, bath linens. And yes, I do use Downy fabric sheets in the dryer to remove static electricity. I cannot stand and spray each item individually with hair spray or lotion to which I might be allergic to fragrance. I use only Gain laundry liquid because Woolite breaks down the spandex and is more expensive. Plus, I have never noticed a difference in the outcome of my clothing.
Bluing is my best friend for crisp, white clothing such as cotton, linen and even silk, using stritcly according to the bottle directions so I don't have dyed blue clothing but sparkly white and clean.
I have a laundry bag for hosiery and small scarves.
I wash almost all silks in my washer except my better, most expensive silk scarves (the few that came in orange box. I have not attempted that yet but I do handwash them myself in a pan with Gain and cold water, dry and iron.
I often put cashmere sweaters in the washer, but only one at a time because it is the friction of your body heat or rubbing together or against something else that causes pilling.
I use vinegar in my laundry sink with water and scrub/rub the cuffs of light color blouses because the rubbing of your hands, even against your own body, creates oils and they hold dirty and eventually the cuffs will become dingy if you do not pay special attention to those areas. Nice cotton blouse/shirts such as those from Brooks, Chico's, etc., can get quite expensive and show wear fast if not laundered properly.
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