How to Choose Colorfast Clothes

With the proper understanding of colorfastness, you can purchase clothing items that will not easily fade.

According to Mark Twain, "clothes make the man." If your clothes are faded due to age or wear, your attire is probably not impressive. Your wardrobe is an investment so consider whether your desired clothing articles are colorfast before you purchase them. Clothing that is colorfast will not fade or experience dye bleeding during a wash cycle. Regardless of the hue you choose in a piece of clothing, if the garment is colorfast it will not fade.

Instructions

1. Read the garment's tag. Take note of any specific wash instructions including cycle choice or water temperature.

2. Test the garment. To ensure that a garment will not fade due to noncolorfast dye, dampen a small area of the clothing. After a few minutes, press a piece of white fabric or cloth to the wet area. If the white absorbs any amount of color from the garment, it will fade upon repeated wash cycles and general wear.

3. Use proper laundering techniques. Separate bold, bright or dark colors and wash them with like pieces. Preserve these garments by washing them in cold water and using appropriate detergent that is specifically meant to prevent fading.

Tips & Warnings

• When prepping a load of laundry for a wash cycle, only use one additional agent with the detergent. For example, when washing whites, use either bleach or fabric softener with the detergent, not both.

References

• Martha Stewart: Ten Tips for a Perfect Wash
• Shout: Frequently Asked Questions

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish