How to Set Vintage Dye When Washing

Proper care will ensure that vintage clothing holds its color longer.

Keeping the original colors of your vintage fabrics fresh and vibrant will extend the life of your garments and help preserve the look of their era. It's important to take special care when washing older clothing. Always check the labels to ensure the fabric can be machine washed. If it is, always wash vintage clothing separately. Although there is no perfect way to keep colors locked into fabrics for as long as you own them, a simple salt and vinegar bath will set all types of dyes into machine washable clothing for a very long time.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring cup
• Tablespoon
• Salt
• White distilled vinegar

Instructions

1. Fill the washing machine completely with cold water and add 3 tablespoons of salt per 1 gallon of water. If your unsure of the specific measurements, adding a little more salt than necessary will not hurt the clothing. Set the machine on the wash cycle for three minutes to allow all of the salt to completely dissolve, then turn it off.

2. Place the clothing into the water and let sit for two hours. Be sure that all of the clothing is completely submerged under the water and not floating on top.

3. Set the washing machine to rinse and let it go through its normal cycle. Fill the washing machine with cold water and laundry soap as usual. For this first wash, it's not necessary to use softener. Allow the clothing to go through all of the cycles but stop it right before it gets to the last rinse cycle.

4. Add 1 1/2 cups of white distilled vinegar to the water and allow the machine to finish the last rinse cycle and spin dry. Remove the garments from the washing machine and place in the dryer on low heat. It is not necessary to completely dry the clothing, but the heat from the dryer will also help to set the colors in.

5. Wash the garment again in cold water, adding laundry detergent and softener as usual, and allow the washing machine to go through all of the cycles. Dry the garment as usual, either by machine or allowing it to air dry. The second wash will ensure that all of the vinegar odor has been removed from the clothing.

References

• Recipe Goldmine: Household Hints-Laundry
• You Look Fab: Wash Jeans In Vinegar To Set The Dye
• The Vinegar Institute: Laundry Hints

Resources

• Fashion-Era: Cleaning Vintage And Stains
• Vintage Vixen: Daily Wear And Washing Tips
• Old Fashion Living: Cleaning Vintage Fabric