If you think dry cleaning is expensive, try ruining a piece of clothing. Before adding that blouse to the "errand" pile, read its label.

The U. S. Federal Trade Commission's Project Clean requires manufacturers to provide garment labels with care instructions. As a minimum, laundering instructions include (in order) four symbols: washing, bleaching, drying and ironing. Dry cleaning instructions include one symbol. Additional symbols or words or both may be used to clarify the instructions.

If the label on your blouse reads "Dry Clean Only," there you go. But if it says "Dry Clean" it may be hand or machine washable in cold water.

If you like saving money on dry cleaning, you'll love knowing that using Clorox® bleach products prolong the useful life of bleachable clothing by helping maintain their appearance. Because they work in cold water, you save on energy costs, too.

Natural fabrics, including flax (linen), cotton, wool and silk, have been in use for 3,000 to 5,000 years. Linen was used for pharaoh's burial shrouds in ancient Egypt. Rayon, invented in 1920, was the first manmade fabric. Others include nylon, polyester, spandex, and microfibers. Lyocell was first manufactured under the Tencel® brand in 1993.

From sorting to shaking, these tips will help you get the most life from your laundry:

• Separate lightweight fabrics from heavy ones.
• Separate lint producers (towels) from lint magnets (corduroy).
• Separate natural fibers from synthetics. Check the label. Man-made fibers attract oils released from natural fibers. The oils build up, making spots noticeable after several washings.
• Separate delicate fabrics from tougher ones.
• Wash bright colors on white backgrounds separately the first time to see if the dye runs.
• Gently shake out items taken from the washer before putting them in the dryer. Anything balled up will dry slower and probably come out wrinkled.
• Leave clothes in the dryer just long enough to remove moisture and wrinkles. Leaving them too long can set wrinkles, increase static electricity and cause shrinkage.