How to stop black and dark clothes fading and deteriorating in the wash

‘Best’ method to stop black and dark clothes from ‘fading’ and ‘deteriorating’ in the wash Black and dark-coloured clothing tends to fade in the laundry cycle due to hot water washes, harsh detergents, agitation during washing and overdrying. The dye itself can also cause bleeding and fading if it is not well-set or if the wrong type of dye was used on a certain fabric. Friction between articles of clothing can also cause fabric fibres to break, resulting in a faded appearance. Vivien Fodor, laundry category manager at Whirlpool, claimed that learning how to wash dark and black clothes will help them ‘stay vibrant’, while also protecting lighter clothes from colour transfer. She said: ‘Follow this simple seven-step guide for best practices to keep your dark-coloured clothes from fading in the wash.’ Black clothes can fade and bleed if the dye used was not well set Step one: Read clothing labels for washing and drying instructions Before washing clothes, always check the garment’s care tag for proper washing and drying instructions, including any dry cleaning requirements. The care tag symbols and recommendations for washing and drying can help ‘prevent fading to keep your clothes looking vivid and new, as well as prevent deterioration’, which makes them a good option for washing dark or black clothes. Step two: Wash black clothes and dark-coloured clothes separately Sorting dark-coloured clothing before washing helps ‘prevent dye transfers’ and ‘colour absorption’ with lighter colours. Additionally, separating laundry by fabric type and weight can also prevent unwanted lint and pilling to dark fabrics, which may ’cause a faded, aged appearance’. Wash black clothes and dark-coloured clothes separately SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Step three: Turn clothes inside out before washing To ‘wash clothes without fading’, be sure to turn the garments inside out before placing them into the washing machine. The expert said: ‘This allows the inside of the clothing to take the brunt of the agitation and fading from the washing cycle, while still ensuring a thorough, clean wash.’ Step four: Use cold water and a delicate cycle to wash dark clothes After separating your dark-coloured clothing and turning the garments inside out, put on a short, delicate washing cycle in cold water. Vivien noted: ‘The shorter cycle and cold water temperature minimise the agitation to your clothing and help prevent the dyes from bleeding.’ Trending A liquid detergent tailored for dark clothing is the ‘best method to prevent fading’