how do you keep black clothing from fading?

Question

how do you restore them if they have already faded

Answer 1

Most people think their clothing is not clean unless it is washed in hot water. This is not true. You avoid ading, shrinking, stain setting by using cold water. Laundry detergent is a corrosive (hint: the warning on label). When using detergent follow the instructions. Betsy, IN

I have always soaked red OR black clothing items in cold salt water to set the color in and prevent color bleeding. It seems logical that it might help to prevent fading also.This is a tip shared with me years ago by my Mother-in-law. Bobbee, PA

Put a cup of salt in the (water) washing machine so the black won't wash out. Alicia

Always turn clothing inside out, use cold water & detergent formulated for dark colors. Dry rightside out. Cheryl, OH

Use WOOLITE and COLD Water. Lesa, GA

Woolite now has a cleanser just for black clothing. Helen, TN

Before laundering with detergent cover the new item with cold water mixed with white vinegar. I do this in the washer on the rinse cycle & let them set for about thirty minutes. I then wash the items as I normally would. This has worked well for me. (Black & colored clothes) Janet, MO

To lock in colors, I soak the item in a mixture of 1/2 cup white vinegar & 2 gallons of water. We golf & our colored caps & shirts can fade fast in the sunlight. This has dramatically lengthened their life & appearance. NOTE: I've only used this on 100% cotton & cotton/poly blends. I'd recommend checking with a quality fabric store before trying this on other fabric blends. Janis, OR

Black clothes (or other dark clothes, for that matter) begin to look faded after just a few washings. The drier does more damage than the washer, believe it or not. To help this problem, always turn the clothes inside out before putting them in the washer, and hang to dry, if possible. If not, dry on low heat. Helen, GA

Dissolve one cup of salt with hot water. Add cold water and stir. Wash clothes in this the first wash. Follow all future wash with cold water only. Turn pants inside out, so they will not rub together with other like colors. Shirley, CA

1. Zip, button, and turn inside out before washing
2. Use cold water. Start with hot to dissolve detergent, as soon as it's dissolved, turn to cold. (Undissolved detergent will leave a film)
3. Keep the item turned inside out when you put it in the dryer. DO NOT USE SOFTENER. Softeners leave a whitish haze on everything!
4. If you are ironing a dark piece, iron the entire thing inside out! This not only preserves the darkness, but eliminates the graying on seams, collars and cuffs. If it sounds like too much effort, to press on the right side, use a press cloth. (I use an old kitchen towel or an old hankie, as long as it is smooth.) Put the press cloth between the fabric and the iron. For an extra crisp look, you can dampen the press cloth.

In addition, there are now many good detergents on the market that support
dark colors. Cheer and Woolite come to mind. Patti, VT

I've tried the hot water, bleach, and soak method, and it really works well if you add a bluing agent to the rinse water like Mrs Stewart's Bluing. This was a trick that I learned from my grandmother! Works everytime.

Answer 2

Try one of the new detergents that are specially formulated for dark clothes. If you don't have any or it's too expensive, wash your black clothing inside out in the coldest water the fabric will take. Measure your detergent and use just the bare amount recommended for whatever size load you have. Hang to dry even if fabric can be put in the dryer. When it's almost dry, then put in dryer to fluff it up a bit on the gentle cycle.

If they've already faded, about all you can do is have them redyed (depending on the fabric. Some fabrics can't be dyed.).

Answer 3

1. Turn inside out
2. Cold water only
3. Use special laundry soap for darks only

To restore, depending on how bad, type of fabric, and if there is any other colors on the garment, if you can or not.

Buy some dye and re-dye. This will only work on something that is totally black.
If it has a very small amount of another color, you can protect the other color it by painting it with hot wax, then carefully dye by hand. Once you set the dye, wash in warm water once to remove wax.

Answer 4

If it is a new item. then soak it in water with a 1/4 cup if vinager. I would say for a half hour. That will help keep the color. Always wash in cold water. You might try the new detergents that have color guards.

Answer 5

The first time you wash it you should at vinegar to you water. The vinegar will set the color and stop it from fading as quickly.

Answer 6

turn inside out, wash in cold water, hang to dry , wash w/ a little viniger the first time. To get them dark again, dye them black.

Answer 7

dont think fadding of black in cotton, jean and material like that can be stopped, but i found i can keep it from fadding longer by turning item inside out and use cold water not alot of laundry soap and dont dry in hot dryer hope that helps you

Answer 8

you should wash and dry them after turning them inside out. to restore you need to dye them black again....

good luck

Answer 9

wash only black cloths together in cool water or tide has special detergent for that now.

Answer 10

turn them inside out when washing them,same with jeans