Advice for Problems Washing Dark Fabric

Written by Charlotte Wood (last updated August 30, 2021)

I, like many others I'm sure, have had problems regarding successfully washing my dark laundry loads. They fade or bleed onto other clothes and all I want is for my clothes to stay the same except clean—that's the point of laundry right? So why then do we have to deal with faded blacks and whites that are supposed to be white but end up pink or gray? Good grief. Here are some ways to remedy that problem.

First things first: Wash your darks with your other darks. That may seem obvious, but it needs to be stated. You can significantly lessen the chance of your clothes bleeding onto each other by simply washing your darks with your darks and your lights with your lights. This will do wonders to maintain the color quality of all your clothes.

Also, wash your darks in cold water. This will succeed in preventing bleeding and maintaining the color. You can also invest in a detergent made specifically for dark fabrics. (This may be pricier than you're hoping for, but this alternative can be bypassed). You can prevent your blacks and other darks from fading by not drying them in the dryer. Air drying will do wonders to reduce the fading.

If you want to start preserving your color from the beginning, you can soak your clothes in vinegar and then wash as normal. Also if detergent comes in direct contact with fabric it can cause it to fade. That's why it's a good idea to add it as the washer is filling with water and wait until it is dissolved before adding your clothes.

Washing dark fabrics isn't too hard and if you just follow a few tricks you'll be good to go on maintaining the darkness of your fabrics. It's so frustrating when your clothes don't maintain well their quality, so you need to help that along and make sure that you're taking every step you need to keep your darks dark!

Author Bio

Charlotte Wood

MORE FROM CHARLOTTE

Removing Tobacco Odors and Stains from Clothing

Tobacco odors and stains are gross and sometimes impossible to remove from your clothes. Don't lose heart though because ...

Discover More

How to Look Taller

Looker taller is always kind of fun for someone who's not so tall to begin with. Fortunately looking taller is easy to ...

Discover More

Getting a Pedicure

Sometimes you just need a moment to relax and think and be alone. There are many activities to help you achieve that ...

Discover More

Keep Your Hardwood Floors Like New Bona's hardwood floor cleaner is the #1 choice of professionals. The no-residue formula is specially designed to be safe for floors, families, and the environment. Check out Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner Refill today!

More Cleaning Tips

Removing Honey from Silk

Although not as difficult as removing a grease stain, removing honey from silk can prove difficult. The key to removing ...

Discover More

Cleaning Out Your Clothes Closet

Cleaning out your closet does not have to be a huge all day process. You can have a clean closet in just a few days with ...

Discover More

Tips for Washing Your Blue Jeans

Blue jeans are a staple in almost any wardrobe—you need them. Because you use them so much you want to make sure ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in Cleaning Tips from Tips.Net. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is six minus 3?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)


Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in Cleaning Tips from Tips.Net. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.