How to Keep Color in Black Clothes

Help preserve the original color of your black clothing.

When you purchase a new black garment, the color is dark and rich. Yet, after a few cycles through the washer and dryer, the deep color begins to fade slightly, and after you've washed and worn the item a few more times, your pair of jeans or shirt has turned a dark gray. Fortunately, there are things you can do to keep the color in your black clothing longer so you won't have to take extreme measures such as dyeing or purchasing new black clothing.

Things You'll Need

• Laundry detergent formulated for dark-colored clothing

Instructions

1. Purchase and use a laundry detergent that is formulated to reduce fading in black or dark-colored clothing. Some of these detergents neutralize the chlorine in the water that you use to wash the garment.

2. Turn your black clothing inside-out to reduce any abrasion that it may suffer when washing. The friction from rubbing against other clothes can cause the dye to come off of your black garments.

3. Wash items on a delicate cycle if they are not heavily soiled. This will reduce the abrasion the clothing will sustain during the wash cycle.

4. Take your clothing out of the dryer when it's still damp and hang dry. The heat of the dryer can cause extra wear and fading.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid using harsh detergents that do nothing to preserve clothing dye.

References

• North American Precis Syndicate: Tips for Fighting the Fade and Keeping Clothes Black
• Fabric Link: How Can I Stop Dark Clothes From Fading When I Wash Them?