Laundry Question -- Black clothes.

[hooverwheelaway]

For my job, I have to follow dress code:

Black or white shirt, black pants.

It's wonderfully simple.. But I've been irritated because my black clothes seem to fade -- and they fade at different rates. So if I want to wear a black shirt and black pants, sometimes they're two different shades of black.

I've tried using less detergent, washing in cold water, only washing the black items together... blah, blah, blah.

I know that some of it probably has to do with the quality of the material from which the clothes are made. I have some nicer things, and I have some not so nice things.

Nonetheless, Robert and I are about to head to the Mall of America, and I'm going to buy some new pants and maybe a new shirt. I'm hoping that I'll be able to get rid of some of the badly faded things, and sort-of start fresh...

I was told by a co-worker that if I soak things in vinegar before I wash them for the first time that the vinegar will set the color. Is this true? Has anyone had experience with this? I am also curious about some of the detergents that are on the market specifically for black clothes.

**Discuss**

LOL

Seriously though.. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[foraloysius]

Oh yes, soaking in vinegar is a must and not only for black clothes. The soaking makes the fibres "get used to the washing process". Not only will colors fade less (no fading at all is hard to achieve) but it will also make the fibres shrink less.

Besides soaking in vinegar you should wash your black clothes separately in a detergent especially for black clothes. Or if that isn't available use a detergent especially for colors. Make sure there are no optical brighteners in the detergent you are using.

Happy shopping and happy washing!

Louis

 

[bosch2460]

Here is what I do.....

I always wash any new dark clothing in a vinegar wash the very first time. Strong vinegar. I rarely wash in cold...for anything, new or not. So typically I will use the Filter Flo, warm wash, usually a small load, and a cup of white vinegar. I just run them on a full cycle, but a really short wash...like 3 mins.

As for regular washing, I only use a detergent specifically for darks on any dark loads, or at least one with no OBA's. Cheer for Darks, Woolite Dark, etc. I really think that makes a huge difference. I always wash on warm in the Filter Flo, and dark clothes get a 105 degree wash in the Miele. I think good rinsing is key, as well.

So, that is my 2 cents. Good Luck!

 

[westie2]

What we do for black

First thing is to turn inside out the black clothes (we do all our clothes this way) the for black or dark colors we soak in vinegar and salt in cood water. Have used Cheer for darks but like the best Woolite for Darks. Wash in cold water and rinse. Also we hang dry in the house these then when dry just run on touchup in the dryer to remove any wrinkles. In our front load put in vinegar in the bleach depqrtment every time to help hold the color.

 

[strongenough78]

Bosch2460 took the words out of my mouth, Woolite for Darks works GREAT! I highly recommend it.

 

[spankomatic]

Maybe it's the water...

Ever see a fence that was bleached from the chlorine in the water that is sprayed by the sprinkler sytem? This will do the same to clothing. You may want to look into some water filtration sytems for the house or the washer.

Jim

 

[mattl]

I never heard of soaking in vinegar, but I have heard of and done a salt soak. Seems to work. I think Westie2 hit on the best answer, turn them inside out. I always do this with my black jeans and such and it really works. Also, if I want stuff to really keep it's new look I NEVER put it in the dryer.

I have 3 pairs of jean styled Dockers that have never seen the dryer and the look like new after over a year of use. Hang them on a hanger from the waist and let them dry in the basement, then just a light pressing and they are looking good.

 

[brettsomers]

Ive had good luck with my darks using Cheer and Cheer for Darks. Never powder like Tide or Foca. I also keep the agitation times short, always less than ten minutes for lightly soiled t-shirts and jeans.

 

[gyrafoam]

Yeah, it's the chlorine in the water. It fades colors like crazy. Filtering out the chlorine will be good for both you and your clothing.

 

[askomiele]

We wash with

rain water so no chlorine in our supply still our colors fade too! Soaking in vinegar (and using it instead of fabric softner) helps to stop fading! Saltsoaking does work too but I have no idea why as some company ever said that you can wash with salt...? I use vinegar... washing insideout is a must and using a detergent for colors or black clothing. I've heard that drying in a dryer fade colors too... so I hang dry them in the shadow...

 

[brisnat81]

Our Navy Blue School uniforms were always directed to soaked in a Salt bath before washing. Was supposed to be one cup of salt to a bucket of water.

Never too much additional fading, they were line dried and we'd grow out of them before they faded too far.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Fading...

Ohh sorry to hear that Fred.....her`s what to do...

Machine Selection: Asko
Programme: Easy Care High water level
Detergent: Woolite Black + tablespoon salt - no conditioner
Drying:after spin shake out & hang to dry

Strong detergents will cause fading, fab con will add a coating & optical bloom which can dull or add a grey shading, often heat in a dryer will make it worse!!!

Go on be harsh - make the man get the asko out!!!......... Ouchhh............what was that Slapppp for!!!!

 

[gansky1]

I have clients that wear lots of black. They dry clean everything black, even jeans. Supposedly it preserves the color longest, but the vinegar does help a bit for home-washed black.

You guys need a Frigidaire Unimatic dry-cleaner!

 

[favorit]

dry cleaning and cotton fabrics

I ve read that perc can damage cotton fabrics, indeed many labels say "don't dry clean". Is that true ? Why ?

T.I.A.
Carlo

 

[ronhic]

Salt here....

....too for colours that are typical 'faders' or bleeders

- Blacks
- Dark Blue
- Red
- Dark green

 

[cleanteamofny]

The most important thing that goes unnoticed!
Dry on low only, detergents starts the process, but over heating and over drying will continue to ruin the finish.
I have a pair of black pants that are no longer jet black but they are still black after 6 years of delicate washing in cold/dry on low.
I will post a picture later when I get home from work.

 

[dj-gabriele]

Favorit: my beloved father owns a laundry, dry cleaning and traditional. Everything, for 20 years, except my underwear got washed in perc and I have yet to see stuff fading even jeans often get washed in the big ILSA machine!
It's true that solvents will strip colour from the textiles but thay do so only if they're not temperature controlled. So stay assured that dry cleaning a delicate garment will preserve it better than water washing it!

 

[toggleswitch2]

~Also, if I want stuff to really keep it's new look I NEVER put it in the dryer.

Failing that, use medium or low heat in the dryer. Heat fades color, even in the dryer.

IIRC you basement is unheated, so one must use a TIMED dry or a SENSOR AUTOMATIC DRY in order not to over-dry, which may also contribute to fading. TIME-TEMP AUTO DRY may take a VERY long time to shut off the machine in an unheated environment. (If it shuts it off at all. You see, the timer only advances when the heat is OFF).

When using vinegar one does not want to use a washer with procelain guts. It will eat the finish.

There is always RIT dye to reblacken blacks, if you can dedicate a machine to that function. But then you really do have to make sure the dye run-off subsequently does not get on to anything else.

[oh lawd please help me resist the urge to make a King of Pop joke!]

Toodle-ooh

 

[toggleswitch2]

oh, and I am resaonably convinced that phosphates remove color and cause/contribute greatly to fading.