How do You Wash Colored Clothes Without Losing Color?
It is important to separate colored clothes before you wash them in order to avoid losing color. The colors may run together and result in a mass of colors that are not supposed to be together.
A good way to prevent this is by hand-washing the clothes or putting them in a lingerie bag before placing them in the washing machine. But these aren’t always viable options.
You can also use a color catcher sheet to prevent the colors from running together. Or, if you are using a specialized detergent, make sure to use one that is meant for colored clothes.
Aside from all the things you can do to keep your clothes’ colors from fading, there are many things you can do to keep clothes from losing their color in the washing machine as well. Let us shed some light on how to wash colored clothes without losing color.
How to Wash Clothes Without Losing Color
We’ll go into more detail in the following paragraphs, so stick with us. If you follow these tips, your clothes’ colors will be safe for a long time to come.
Why do Clothes Lose Color?
When washing cotton clothing, it’s paramount to separate colors. For other textiles – especially synthetic ones, color separation isn’t as important, since their dyes don’t bleed out as much (if at all).
Cotton clothing, especially over-dyed, dark or cheap cotton clothing, can have quite a strong color run.
As soon as the dye is washed out of the clothing, it dissolves in the water. Some of the pigments floating around in the water will (inevitably) attach to garments they shouldn’t have, causing discoloration.
Pigments exposed to UV-rays break down and fade. In other words, if you leave colored clothes exposed to strong sunlight for too long, the color is bound to fade.
We now know that clothes lose their color because:
Pigments get washed out,
break down in sunlight,
and get discolored because of re-pigmentation.
Obviously, if we wish to stop colors from fading, we must make sure that all three issues are resolved or avoided completely.
Washing Clothes so They Don’t Lose Color
What Colors Can be washed together?
It’s typically best to wash similar colors together and avoid mixing strongly contrasting colors in one wash.
For example, light colors should not be washed with dark colors, as the dark colors may bleed onto the lighter ones, making them darker.
Colors that come from hues that are close to each other on the color wheel can easily be washed together. The more these colors look alike, the better.
Wash black with very dark colors and make sure to wash whites separately (or with very light pastels).
Garments that have not yet been washed should be pre-washed on their own – especially if they have strong coloration. That way, they can bleed out their excess dye without discoloring other clothing items.
Make sure you separate colors when washing - especially bold or dark ones from light and white ones.
Use a Color Catcher Sheet
Yes, those things actually do help. Just pop a sheet into your washing machine of choice and catch loose pigments floating in the water.
That way, those pigments can’t discolor other clothing items in your wash.
Fabric Softeners Reduce Color Loss
Adding fabric softeners to your wash makes sure that fibers stay as smooth and pliable as possible.
Smooth textiles reflect light (and thus color) better and appear more vibrant. Conversely, brittle and hard fibers appear dull and muted in color.
You guessed it, it’s as simple as adding a small cup of fabric softener to your wash.
Granted, it might not be the most ecologically friendly option you have. Luckily, there are a few other things you can do to help your clothes retain their color better.
Wash Colored Clothes in Cold Water
Another thing you can do to protect the colors of your colored clothes is to wash them in cold water. This will help to keep the colors from fading.
Warm water dissolves dyes more easily, extracting them from garments. Washing clothes in cold water makes sure the process of “washing out” doesn’t happen as quickly.
Washing clothes in cold water also uses less energy, which is good for the environment.
In other words: Unless your clothes are heavily stained or dirty, always wash with cold water (60-80°F or 20-30°C).
Flip Your Clothes Inside-Out
As we’ve already covered, roughed-up cloth fibers lose their brilliance. Wouldn’t it, therefore, make sense to turn clothes inside-out to wash, so that the outer side stays smooth and shiny?
Doing so shields the outside of your clothing from abrasion during the wash preserving the glow of its color.
As an added bonus, clothing flipped inside-out stays nicer a lot longer than if washed conventionally. Also, prints on the outside stay intact for longer.
Use Color-Saving Detergent
Specialization is key in life (and also when it comes to detergents). We seriously suggest you use detergents specialized for color when washing colorful clothes.
Such detergents have components in them that help your clothes retain their pigments. Why not make use of that?
The same goes for detergents labeled for black or white textiles. Use them for their intended purposes.
Drying Colored Clothes
When you are done washing your colored clothes, make sure to dry them properly.
Drying them in the sun can cause the colors to fade because of the UV radiation, so it is best to dry them indoors away from windows. Hang the clothes until they are completely dry, then fold and store them in a cool, dry place.
You can use a dryer, but make sure to set it on the lowest possible heat setting. Any dryer will make colors fade over time, though. It’s best to hang clothes to dry if you have the option.
Storing Colored Clothes
If you are not going to wear your colored clothes for a while, it is best to store them properly. You can put them in a closet or in a drawer. It is also a good idea to fold them properly so that they do not wrinkle.
Why? Well, the answer lies with the UV rays.
Radiation breaks apart pigments and makes clothing colors fade over time. Actually, it’s even best to just leave your most precious garments in the closet altogether. But that’s not really an option, is it?
Does Vinegar Keep Colors From Fading?
Some people say that adding vinegar to the wash cycle can help to keep colors from fading, while others say that it can actually cause colors to fade faster. experimenting with different amounts of vinegar and wash cycles may be the best way to see if it works for your specific type of colored clothes.
We’ve tested this for ourselves and yes, putting Vinegar in your wash can help keep colors from fading.
Some people recommend adding a full cup of vinegar to the wash cycle, while others say that adding only a small amount works best. We didn’t really notice a difference. So, in other words: test, test, test.
Vinegar is a natural fabric softener, and it can also help to remove any lingering soap residue or detergent build-up. This means that you get less detergent residue on your clothes helping them remain vibrant.
Why not keep your clothes looking their best, wash after wash?
You can also add a cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle if you prefer. This will help to further remove any soap residue or detergent build-up and it will also help to soften your clothes.
The downside? Depending on the type of vinegar you use, you might not like the smell of your clothes afterward. Again: test.
We find it’s best to throw half a cup of vinegar directly into the barrel right before you start the wash. Then simply commence as you would regularly.
What about salt?
Salt is another common ingredient that is said to help keep colors from fading. Again, it is recommended that you experiment with different amounts and wash cycles to see if it works for your clothes.
That said, we find that we fair best when only using one or two pinches of salt per wash. Simply sprinkle some right into the barrel and you’re good to go.
Yes, this amount of salt might be completely negligible. Most likely the bonus it brings is purely psychological but it can’t hurt to try adding salt to your wash to see for yourself.
In any case, we can’t exactly explain how and why throwing in some salt helps to keep your colored clothes bright and shiny, but it seems to (at least for us).
Is it worth it and does salt really make a difference? Well, that remains to be seen. We haven’t really found any statistical evidence to answer this question definitively.
Help Clothes Retain Color
So that’s that. By following all the tips we’ve outlined in this article, you’ll make sure your clothes retain the most color possible over their life cycle.
Nobody likes wearing washed-out clothes. By keeping an eye on UV rays, washing your clothes in cold water, using the right detergents and softeners, and maybe opting for a few nifty tricks, you’re bound to succeed.
By the way, you might even be able to restore some brightness to your clothing by using bleach. Read our article on how to use bleach for colored clothes for more info.
We hope we’ve been able to provide you with some handy advice on how to wash your clothing without losing color. If so, we’d like to ask you to help us out in return.
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