If you've been following along, we recently discussed 3 Ways to Keep Your White Clothing White. Well, what about your dark clothing? If you regularly wear black t-shirts or black denim, then there's nothing worse than your favorite piece of clothing fading in the wash. As such, today we'll share 5 ways to keep your dark clothing from fading.
1. Use Vinegar to Keep Dark Clothing from Fading
The next time you go to the grocery store, make sure to pick up a bottle of vinegar. Vinegar has been known to serve multiple purposes, but very few people know that vinegar is incredibly effective at keeping your dark clothing from fading.
Simply add 1/2 cup of vinegar to your wash cycle. It can either be applied straight to the load, or mixed with your detergent, or added to the fabric softener dispenser. If you have "hard water," the vinegar will help get rid of any detergent build-up of minerals in the water that tends to make dark clothing fade or appear dingy. We find that the smell of vinegar usually disappears once clothing is dry.
2. Always Wash Dark Clothing COLD to Prevent Fading
Another tried and true approach to keeping your dark clothing from fading is to always wash your darks in cold water. Hot and warm water settings will cause fibers in your clothing to break down faster, which is the primary reason that darks fade. You can typically extend the life of dark-colored clothing by switching to cold water. Subsequently, you'll also save money by using cold water rather than hot water.
3. Use a Gentle Cycle to Prevent Dark Clothes From Fading
Anytime you have a special piece of clothing, we recommend that you wash it separately or with similar items. But, if you really want to reduce fading, use the gentle cycle. The gentle cycle is designed to add extra protection to your fabric. As such, it tends to do a better job of keeping brights brighter and darks darker. Alternatively, you could also use a hand-wash cycle.