Washing Black Clothes

When I first started out on my own, I had all kinds of problems when it came to doing the laundry. It seemed like nothing I did was ever right and that I was always ruining my clothes. In fact, nothing caused me more angst than washing black clothes. Every time I pulled my favorite shirt (which was black) out, it seemed like it had either faded or gotten all kinds of white spots. I didn't know what to do.

Luckily, over the years I learned a few tricks to help save not only my sanity, but my favorite clothes. Try these out the next time you need to wash any black clothes. It can get pretty expensive to replace the same shirt every few months.

• Detergent. Many times there is one culprit and one culprit only when it comes to white spots on black clothing is the detergent you are using. If you use too much detergent or even the wrong kind, you will end up with white spots or streaks all over your clothing. When washing black clothing it is very important to use only the proper amount. This guideline applies whether you are using regular laundry detergent or the detergents specially formulated for darker clothes.
• Cold water. Unlike other colors, when you wash your black clothes you should always use cold water. This is because cold water will not make the color run as much, if at all, like warmer water will. If the colors bleed or run, even if there is nothing for it to stain, then the black clothing will fade.
• Inside out. One of the best ways to protect your black clothing while washing is to turn it inside out. This step will also help reduce fading due to friction. However, before you use this method you will want to make sure that you pre-treat any stains with a color-safe detergent to help ensure that the stains are completely removed.
• Dye. There may come a time when, no matter how careful you are, you are unable to prevent white spots, streaks, or fading. The best way to handle these situations is to actually dye the garment black again. It may seem like cheating, but who cares if you can get it looking like new again?