Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 2: Main wash
• Part 2 of 2: Additional Tricks
• Tips
• What do you need

Faded black clothes can be very frustrating after washing. However, the fading process is not inevitable. Several basic washing methods can prevent color fading of your favorite items. If they don't do the trick, there are also a few additional tricks you can try.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Main wash

1. 1 Wash your clothes less often. Regardless of how carefully you handle your black clothes and what precautions you take when washing, the wash itself promotes fading and ultimately causes signs of fading. To prevent the effects of fading, you should only wash your black clothes as needed. If you have the option to skip a wash, skip to preserve the integrity of the dye.
   • Black pants and sweaters that you wear over other clothing can usually be worn four or five times until they need to be washed, especially if the garment is only worn indoors. Likewise, if you only wear clothes for a few hours a day, they can also be folded and put on again without washing.
   • However, it should be noted that black underwear and socks should be washed every time you wear them.
   • In between washes, you can remove stains with a stain remover and remove white deposits from the deodorant with a dry sponge.
2. 2 Sorted by color. Whenever possible, wash black clothes with other black clothes or other dark clothes. The dye tends to wash out during the wash, but if there is no light-colored garment that can lighten the dark dye, the washed-out dyes will return to the black garment.
   • In addition to separating clothes by color, you should also divide them by weight. This can protect the pattern and color of thinner black clothing.
3. 3 Turn clothes inside out. The surface of the fabric that is directly abraded is the outer surface that receives the most wear. As a result, paint from the outside will always be washed out first during washing. Keep the outside of black clothing by turning each garment inside out before washing it.
   • The black color is washed off by rubbing things against each other in the washing machine.
   • More specifically, friction causes damage to the fibers and the ends of those fibers. As the surface of the tissue is destroyed, the human eye sees less color, even when the color has not actually been faded.
   • You can reduce the amount of fraying and friction on your garment even more by closing all zippers and fasteners.
4. 4 Use cold water. Warm water tends to wash out dye from the fibers, so bright colors and black clothes tend to wash faster when washed in lukewarm water. Washing these items of clothing in cold water can help keep the dye stored longer.
   • Warm water destroys fibers, making colors fade faster when washed in warm water.
   • When washing in cold water, try to keep the water temperature between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius and not warmer.
   • Note that you may need to change your washing habits during the cold winter months. Freezing cold air temperatures can cause the water temperature in the washing machine to drop below 4.4 degrees Celsius. At such low temperatures, even liquid detergents may not be fully effective. If the outside temperature drops below -18 degrees Celsius, you should consider using warm water for washing and cold water for rinsing.
5. 5 Stick to a quick wash. Essentially, just as you should wash your black clothes as little as possible, you should make those washings as short as possible. The less time your clothes are in the washing machine, the less chance the dye will wash out or fade.
   • The delicate mode works well when you are in doubt, but generally you should still choose the appropriate settings based on how dirty the garment is and the material it is made from.
6. 6 Add specialized detergent. Currently, there are special detergents for use on black clothing. These detergents help hold the dye in during the wash, so the dye is less likely to wash out or fade.
   • If you are not using a detergent for dark colors, use a detergent formulated for washing in cold water. These detergents can partially neutralize chlorine in tap water, which is very important as chlorine will discolor and lighten black clothes.
   • Note that detergents do not necessarily contribute to fading, although some will help prevent it more than others. Any liquid detergent will work. Do not use bleach.
   • Liquid detergents work better than powder detergents in cold water. Powders usually do not dissolve completely in cold water, especially when using the quick wash cycle.
7. 7 Skip drying. Heat is the enemy when you are trying to prevent black clothing from fading. Black items should hang or lie flat to dry. Avoid using a dryer until absolutely necessary.
   • When you hang black clothes outside, make sure you don't place them in the sun. Sunlight acts as a natural bleach that will fade your black clothes even faster.
   • If you really need to use a dryer, set the temperature as low as possible, considering the material your clothes are made of. You also need to watch your clothes carefully to make sure they don't get dry or too warm. Just in case, take off your clothes while they are still damp.

Part 2 of 2: Additional Tricks

1. 1 Add some vinegar. While rinsing, add 1 cup (250 ml) white distilled vinegar. Add vinegar directly to the washing machine drum containing black items; do not add it to the detergent drawer if there is no separate drawer.
   • Adding vinegar to the rinse mode has a number of benefits, including those related to preserving black clothing. This household wonder can set colors as well as rid the fabric of detergent residues. Otherwise, this residue can form a thin layer on your clothes, making your clothes appear faded.
   • Vinegar is also a natural fabric softener.
   • In the rinse mode, the vinegar should evaporate, so there is usually no smell left. However, if the odor remains, air drying the garment should help get rid of it.
2. 2 Try salt. Add 1/2 cup (125 ml) table salt to a wash with black clothes.The salt should be placed directly in the washing machine drum and not in a separate compartment in the tray.
   • Salt can help prevent color fading, including black fading. This is especially useful when washing new clothes, but it can also help restore the color of old clothes and get rid of detergent residues.
3. 3 Use pepper. Simply add 1 - 2 tsp (5 to 10 ml) black pepper to the drum of the washing machine, along with black clothes, at the start of the wash. Do not add anything to the separate detergent drawer, if one exists.
   • The abrasiveness of black pepper helps prevent fading and maintains the black tint of the colorant.
   • The black pepper should be rinsed off.
4. 4 Add baking soda to the washing machine. Pour 1/2 cup (125 ml) of baking soda into the washer drum after filling it with the black clothes you want to keep. The baking soda should be in the same part of the machine as your clothes.
   • Baking soda is commonly used to help lighten whites, as a chlorine-free bleaching method. However, as a chlorine-free bleach, it can also brighten other colors, including black.
5. 5 Use the full power of coffee or tea. Brew 2 cups (500 ml) of coffee or black tea. Add this liquid directly in the rinse mode after the laundry has been washed.
   • Coffee and black tea are used as natural colorants. Even if they dye light-colored fabrics brown, on black fabrics, they reinforce the black dye and darken the overall shade of the garment.

Tips

• Going forward, choose black clothes that hold the paint much better. Fabrics that tend to hold dye better include wool and nylon. On the other hand, acetate and linen tend to wash out and fade more easily.

What do you need

• Specialized detergent
• Vinegar
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Baking soda
• Tea
• Coffee