Restore the colors of faded clothes

Video: 7 Clothing Hacks To Save Money and LOOK BETTER!

Content

To step
Method 1 of 4: Restore clarity with salt
Method 2 of 4: Counteract detergent residues with vinegar
Method 3 of 4: Dyeing clothes to get the color back
Method 4 of 4: Try other household remedies
Tips
Warnings
Necessities
Restore clarity with salt
Counteract detergent residues with vinegar
Dyeing clothes to get the color back
Try other household items

It can be quite frustrating to buy colorful clothes and then watch the colors fade from washing. Fortunately, there are ways you can restore the vibrant color of your garments. Sometimes the detergent can build up on the laundry, making the colors look dull. In that case, washing your clothes with salt or vinegar can help keep your clothes looking like new again. If the fading of the clothes is caused by normal washing and wearing, dyeing the garment back to its original color can give the garment a new lease of life! You can also sometimes mend your clothes with things you just have around the house, such as soda, coffee or hydrogen peroxide.

To step

Method 1 of 4: Restore clarity with salt

Put your faded clothes in the washing machine with some regular detergent. If you have clothes that fade after a few washes, the culprit could be residual detergent. Adding salt to regular laundry can help dissolve those residue and make your clothes look like new again.
- Powder detergent is more likely to leave residues than liquid detergent.
Add 1/2 cup (150 g) of salt to the wash cycle. Once you've put your clothes and detergent in the washing machine, pour about 1/2 cup (150 g) of salt into the drum. In addition to restoring colors, it can also help prevent new clothes from fading.
- You can even add salt to any load of laundry if you prefer.
- Regular table salt or ultra-fine pickling salt works well for this, but avoid coarsely ground sea salt, as it may not dissolve completely in the washing machine.
- Salt is also an effective stain remover, especially for blood stains, mildew and sweat stains.
Dry your clothes as usual. After washing clothes, take them out of the machine and check the color. When you're happy with them, you can air dry them or put them in the dryer. If they still look faded, try washing them in vinegar.
- You may need to repaint your clothes if the color has washed out over time.

Method 2 of 4: Counteract detergent residues with vinegar

Put 120 ml of natural vinegar in your washing machine. If you have a top loader, you can pour the vinegar directly into the drum, or add it to the fabric softener if you have a front loader. The vinegar will help break down any detergent or minerals left behind by hard water so your clothes will look more colorful.
- The vinegar also prevents residue, so it's a great way to keep your clothes colourfast when they're new.
Tip: For a deeper clean, you can also dilute a cup (240 ml) of white vinegar in four liters of warm water. Let the garment soak in the vinegar solution for about 20-30 minutes before washing as usual.
Wash the clothes in cool water in the normal way. Put your faded clothes in your washing machine, add detergent and turn on the machine. In many cases, soaking your clothes in a vinegar solution and then washing it will be enough to bring the colors back to life.
- Choose the washing program that is suitable for the clothes whose colors you want to save. For example, if you wash garments made of a delicate material such as silk or lace, choose a softer wash cycle. For more durable fabrics such as cotton or denim, a normal wash cycle is fine.
Air or tumble dry your clothes. The vinegar will be washed from your clothes during the rinsing process, so your laundry shouldn't smell like vinegar when it comes out of the wash. You can hang the clothes up to dry or tumble dry them, depending on the instructions on the care label or how you normally prefer to dry your clothes.
- If some of the odor lingers, hang the garment outside to dry or put fabric softener in the dryer. The smell should be gone by the time it dries.
- If your clothes still look faded, the dye may have just washed out and it is necessary to dye the clothes.

Method 3 of 4: Dyeing clothes to get the color back

Check the care label to determine if the fabric is dyeable. Some fabrics can be dyed better than others, so before attempting to mend your garment by dyeing it, check the label on the inside of the garment to see what it is made of. If the item is made from at least 60% natural fibers, such as cotton, silk, linen, ramie or wool, or if it is made from rayon or nylon, it will likely be dyeable.
- Clothes made from a mix of natural and synthetic fibers will not look as dark once dyed as clothes made from all-natural fabrics.
- If the garment is made of acrylic, spandex, polyester, or metallic fibers, or if the label says something like "Dry Clean Only," then it probably won't be easy to dye, if at all.
Tip: Make sure the clothes you want to dye are completely clean. If there are stains or spots remaining, the dye may not be evenly absorbed into the fabric.
Choose a dye that is as close to the original color as possible. If you want your garment to look as good as new, take it to the fabric store to choose the right dye. Find the one closest to it, as this will make the result the brightest and most natural.
- If you want to change the color of your clothes, you will probably need to apply a color stripper first.
Protect your skin and work area from the dye. Cover your workspace with newspapers, tarpaulins, or trash bags so that if any of the dyes splash, it won't stain your table, counter, or floor. Plus, have some old rags or paper towels nearby so you can clean up spills quickly. In addition, put on old clothes and thick gloves so that your clothes and skin do not discolour.
- It is important to protect your hands as contact with the dye can irritate your skin.
Fill a container with hot water at about 48-60 degrees. Most household water heaters are set to a maximum temperature of 48 degrees, although some are set to 60 degrees, so the hottest water from your tap should be enough. However, if you want warmer water, you can boil it to just below boiling point, or about 93 degrees. Pour the water into a large pot, bucket, or tub, or fill a top loader with water on the hottest setting.
- You need about 12 liters of water for every pound of laundry.
- A bucket or pan is useful for smaller items such as thin tops, accessories and children's clothing. Use a plastic tub or washing machine for larger items such as sweaters and jeans.
- Most garments weigh about 0.2-0.4 kg.
Dissolve the dye and salt in a small cup of water and then add them to the bath. Follow the directions on the dye to determine exactly how much you need. In general, however, you will need about half a bottle of dye to half a kilo of fabric. To help the dye soak in, add half a cup (150 g) of salt to every half pound of fabric you dye. Stir the food coloring and salt in a small cup of warm water until completely dissolved. Then add the food coloring and salt to your larger container of water and use a long metal spoon or tongs to stir everything together.
- For easy cleaning, you can use a stick or plastic spoon to stir the food coloring in the smaller container. That way you can just throw it away when you're done.
Add the clothes and let them soak for 30-60 minutes, stirring occasionally. Place the clothes in the dye bath and push them under water with a spoon or tongs so that they are completely saturated. To allow the dye to soak evenly into the fabric, stir the clothing at least every 5-10 minutes. That will help prevent any folds or dumplings in the fabric from blocking the dye.
- The more you stir, the more evenly the clothes will be dyed. Some people prefer to stir constantly, while others find that just tossing the clothes around every few minutes is enough.
Remove the clothing from the dye and rinse thoroughly in cold water. When the recommended time has passed, or if you think the garment has turned dark enough, use your tongs or spoon to gently lift the garment from the dye bath. Transfer it to a bathtub or sink, and rinse the item under cold running water until the water is almost or completely clear.
- Remember that the color will appear darker when the garment is wet, so keep that in mind when checking to make sure it's done!
- Immediately clean your sink or bathtub so that the dye doesn't stain!
Wash the garment without any other clothes in the washing machine on a cold wash cycle. When you are happy with the color, turn the garment inside out and put it in the washing machine. Even though you've already rinsed out much of the dye by hand, more will come out in the wash - so don't put anything else in the washing machine to avoid discoloration of other clothes.Then run a small wash at a cold temperature.
- Turning the garment inside out when you wash it can help preserve the color.
Dry the garment to see the final color. You can hang your garment or put it in the dryer, depending on the fabric and your personal preference. Either way, when finished, examine the clothing to make sure that the dye is evenly dyed and there are no streaks or areas of lightness, and that you are happy with the final result.
- If necessary, you can dye the clothes again.

Method 4 of 4: Try other household remedies

Try adding baking soda to your washing machine to brighten up white clothes. Baking soda or baking soda is a household product that can help brighten your clothes, and it's especially effective on white fabric. Simply put about half a cup (90 g) of it in the drum of your washing machine, along with your clothes and regular laundry detergent.
- Baking soda is also very useful to rid your clothes of bad odors!
Make black clothes deep black again by soaking them in coffee or tea. If you want an easy, inexpensive way to keep your dark clothes looking rich and new, brew a pint of high-strength black tea or coffee. Put the clothes in the washing machine and wash them as usual, but don't walk away from them. When the rinsing program starts, open the lid of the washing machine and pour in the coffee or tea. Let the cycle finish and hang your clothes to dry.
- Black clothes can fade more quickly if you tumble dry them.
Brighten the color of your clothes by adding black pepper to the wash. Place your clothes in the washing machine as you normally would, then add 2-3 tsp (8-12 g) of ground black pepper to your clothes. This will aid in the removal of detergent residue and the pepper flakes wash away again during the rinse cycle.
Wash your white clothes in hydrogen peroxide to freshen the colors. If the whites of clothes and fabrics look faded and dingy after a few washes, bleaching them can be tempting, but this can weaken and discolor the fabric over time. Instead, add 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide to your laundry detergent and wash your clothes as usual.

Tips

You can combine some of these techniques, such as adding both salt and vinegar to your laundry, for even better results.
Sort your clothes by color, turn them inside out and wash them in cold water to prevent them from fading.