That lovely blue T-shirt you bought a week ago already looks faded. The red skirt admired by friends at a recent party looks anything but red. You likely did not realize that the original colors changed their hues because you did not take the right steps when pushing them through a laundry wash.
Top 9 Laundry Tips To Prevent Color Fading
Here are 10 fabulous tips for maintaining the vibrant colors of your garment when doing the laundry.
1. The Garment Label
Garment labeling is done for a vital reason. It is not just to identify the size, country of origin, and brand of clothing but also provides crucial instructions on washing and caring for the garment based on the fiber content (cotton, polyester, denim, etc.) Generally placed on the inside center of the neck, you should not skim over the label or ignore it. A few common instructions will be:
- Machine Wash Cold
- Do not Bleach
- Dry Clean only
There are labels, too, which specify that the garment should be hand washed only at a particular temperature, such as for woolens, while others mention a machine wash and tumble dry method on a low setting.
2. The Divide and Wash Basics
You separate clothes in their niche spots in the closet and can easily reach out to wear what you want as per the situation (home wear/work clothes/special functions). Similarly, one of the best laundry tips to prevent color fading in laundry is to organize them in separate lots when doing the laundry. Divide them into the type of fabric and the colors. For example, don’t mix cotton garments with those that are 100% polyester, as the latter will require the use of the gentle washing mode. It also makes sense to wash the whites together so that the color in the fabric of other garments does not bleed onto them. Within the color spectrum, too, keep the darker shades as a separate lot. Separating clothes and doing them in individual lots also ensures the machine is not overloaded.
3. The Outside-Inside Turn Over Rule
We obviously always ensure that we are wearing clothes correctly with the right side out. In the case of doing laundry, it is the exact opposite. You must put them in the wash cycle the other way around, with the inner side outside, including the sleeves and collars. The cleaning-tumbling-drying cycle can be harsh on clothes as they are hitting the sides of the drum as well as rubbing against each other. There is less friction and subsequently better preservation of the colors if the outer section of the garment is on the inside. This applies to smaller pieces as well, such as a pair of socks. Moreover, turning a garment inside out keeps buttons, sequins, beads, zips, and any other kind of garment add-ons on the inner side.
4. The Machine Settings
It is wise to know the program settings of each stage of the laundry process, whether it is washing, rinsing, or drying. Every fabric has its own individual properties and hence washing requirements. If you use a heavy setting for clothes that are unsuitable for them, the colors will fade quickly. So remember to adjust the setting as per the type of fabric.
5. The H2O Temperature
Water is the foundation of the laundry process, as that is the first requirement to start it off. While a particular garment label may instruct you to use lukewarm water for a wash, such as for a wool jacket, by and large, cold water is the best. It brings down the turbulence of garments in the drum to the minimum level, thereby reducing the possibility of fading colors. Besides, the detergent you use, whether in powder form or a liquid solution, works beautifully in cold water.
6. The Cleaning Agent
Harsh detergents can soon create faded colors. It is a good idea to check out reviews of various detergents to see how they fare for colored clothes. Do they retain the colors of the fabric? Which one is the best to keep white garments at their maximum white? Keep in mind, too, that detergent powder can leave residue clinging to the fabric, so liquid detergents may be the better option. If your machine lacks a dispenser, then you should put the detergent first in the water, run the machine for a few seconds, and then add the clothes. Moreover, avoid using excess detergent.
7. The Salt & Vinegar Solution
The vinegar and salt combination is used for seasoning fried chips or roasted nuts and even popcorn to give it a tangy flavor. Did you know that as individual compounds, they are useful in laundry? That’s rightโeach of them used individually (not together!) is the solution to retaining color in garments. If you want to know how to prevent color fading in laundry, hereโs a bit of advice from experts: Soak a newly purchased garment in water containing a half cup of salt to help hold the color. Another suggestion is to tip in half a cup of vinegar during the wash cycle instead of using detergent. It not only maintains the color quite well but is beneficial in dealing with a stain. No worries about the strong odor of vinegar; it goes by itself when rinsing the garments.
8. The Fabric Softener
Some types of fabric conditioners not only keep the garments soft but may also help prevent a loss in the dye. However, not everyone is in agreement on this, as some experts are against its use, stating that it is not really beneficial and, on the contrary, may harm the fabric. It is best to check the garment label to see if there is a specific instruction not to use fabric softeners. It is also important to read the warning on the fabric softener bottle that alerts you to the fact of its flammability and to avoid using it on children’s wear and flame-resistant garments.
9. The Drying Stage
When you follow Tip #1, read the instructions for the drying stage and not only those for the washing process, as you will then be aware of how to prevent color fading in the laundry. A few examples:
- Tumble dry low: This means you should put the garment in the dryer on a low setting.
- Dry flat: This means you should spread and put out the garment to dry.
- Do not tumble dry: This clearly means not to put the garment in the dryer at all.
For a garment that is put in the drying cycle of the laundry process, you need to use the handy timer on the machine to ensure that it is not excessively dried out. Get it out pronto once the timer goes off, and hang it out to dry, but in the shade and not in direct sunlight.
Conclusion
With fabrics having specific washing requirements based on their individual properties, fabric color mishaps can be avoided by following the above-mentioned best laundry tips to prevent color fading in the laundry.
It would be wise to hire the services of Golden Class Laundry, a professional laundry service in Abu Dhabi, UAE, with multiple conveniently located branches. Contact us on +971 50 280 6220 or send an email @ info@goldenclasslaundry.com
Read to Know: How to Wash a Jacket in a Washing Machine: A Complete Guide
