When it comes to washing clothes, there is a rule that everyone knows: only wash similar colors together and never mix light and colored items. This will certainly get your laundry done, but you can make big mistakes when washing colored items.
Laundry professionals and fabric care experts have explained that small mistakes like overloading the machine or using the wrong detergent can permanently damage your colored clothes. Fortunately, they’re all relatively easy to avoid.
These are the six largest Mistakes when washing clothes to avoid when washing colors and how the experts handle them so that your laundry looks perfect every time.
Mistakes to avoid when washing colored laundry
to make the laundry doesn’t have to be difficult. For example, Sorting clothes for laundry before washing day for color and the Laundry symbols on the care label helps ensure your clothes come out of the washing machine spotless every time.
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1. Use of aggressive chemicals
In most cases, you don’t need to add harsh, caustic chemicals to your laundry, even if the clothes are stained or smelly. This is especially important when washing colored clothes to protect their shade, says Parima Ijaz, textile care expert and founder of Bedding Specialists. Pure Parima:
“Avoid using harsh chemicals when washing and drying your laundry. Detergents, dryer sheets, fabric softeners and other detergents that contain strong chemicals can dry out the fabric and damage the fibers, resulting in a reduction in durability and brightness.”
Rocky Vuong, professional cleaner and founder of NeatBrite adds: “Chlorine bleach is powerful, but it’s also known to wash color out of fabrics. Opt for oxygen bleach, a gentler alternative that won’t affect color but will still brighten white laundry. Remember: when in doubt, leave it out.”
If you want to brighten or refresh dyed clothes without chemicals, consider the following Using white vinegar when washing. The Vinegar trick to prevent laundry from fading Helps refresh colors, remove stains and neutralize odors without the need for commercial chemicals that could harm your fabrics, your washing machine and your skin.
Great Value Distilled White Vinegar, 128 fl oz
This large bottle of white vinegar is highly rated by customers and is a great addition to any home cleaning cupboard.
2. Washing with abrasive substances
There are other advantages Separate laundry than preventing color transfer. Keeping delicate items away from rougher fabrics like towels and jeans is also important to protect the color, says Vanessa Terra Bossart, professional cleaner and founder of Green Terra CleaningShe explains that rough fabrics can cause pilling and wear down the fibers of more delicate colors, causing them to look faded more quickly.
“Separate softer, colored items from coarser materials to avoid damage,” she advises.
3. Wash in hot water
Bring out the best Temperature for washing dark clothes is a must if you want to protect the color, continues Vanessa Terra Bossart, professional cleaner. “Hot water can cause colors to run or fade, especially with bold or dark shades,” she explains. “When washing colored fabrics, always use cold or lukewarm water to preserve their original shades.”
4. Drying at too high a heat
Similar damage can occur in the dryer if you are not aware of your Tumble dryer temperature guideadds Parima Ijaz, fabric care expert.
“Avoid high temperatures on drying settings as extremely high temperatures can cause shrinkage and deterioration. Always tumble dry on low or Air dry laundry where possible, for best results and longer lasting garments and linens.’
5. Using too much detergent
It is important that you Reduce detergent consumption when washing colored clothes to preserve the vibrancy of the color, says Carolina Kazimierski, co-owner and president of Sophia’s Cleaning Service.
“A fairly common mistake I see when washing colored clothes is using too much detergent. Not only can this cause your washing machine to have to work harder, but especially with colored garments, too much detergent can also lead to soap buildup on your clothes, which can result in fading and dull colors.
“I’ve found that many people whose colors are fading are using way too much detergent without realizing it.”
You’ll usually find a dosage recommendation on the back of the detergent bottle, based on the level of soiling and the size of your washing machine. Referring to this every time you do a wash is a great way to get it right every time.
6. Using the wrong detergent
Using the wrong detergent can be just as damaging as using too much detergent, continues Jade Piper, cleaning expert and operations manager at BetterClean.
“To prevent colored clothes from fading, it’s best to avoid using regular laundry detergent, as it can wash out the color over time,” advises Jade. “Instead, look for a color-safe detergent that’s specifically designed for colored clothes.”
Walmart’s Tide Original liquid laundry detergent is a great all-around option for washing white and colored clothes. But if you want a more specialized product, consider Woolite Darks liquid laundry detergent, also from Walmart. It’s highly rated by customers who love that it keeps their clothes “looking newer longer.”
Jade adds: “If you notice your favourite shirt or pair of trousers starting to look a little dull, try using a colour refresher product or soaking them in water with a little salt.” Cleaning with salt “The colors are fixed and thus protected from fading.”
FAQ
How to refresh faded colors in clothes?
Restoring faded colors to clothing is easy but can be tedious as it requires re-dyeing the clothing at home. To do this, choose a fabric dye that is as close to the garment as possible and then follow the instructions on the packaging to soak and re-dye the garment. Remember that color transfer may occur the first time you wash this garment after dyeing, so wash carefully to avoid damaging other garments or linens.
All these extra steps and rules you need to follow when washing colored clothes may not sound good Laundry hacks to save timebut they will pay off in the long run. By washing your clothes correctly the first time, you will avoid damaging or discoloring clothes that will need to be repaired or replaced later, saving you time and energy in the future.
