How to Prevent Clothes From Fading with 10 Easy Tricks to Keep Them Looking New

prevent clothes from fading

People who wash clothes at home often end up with faded outfits in their hands. The reason can be the use of incorrect cleaning materials and the washing cycle that damages the outfit. For a solution, you can contact an expert cleaner like Love2Laundry and look for techniques to prevent clothes from fading.

We’ll provide our customers with effective details about the detergents suitable for each fabric and the washing cycle recommended for each one. Our laundry tips to stop fading clothes will offer you the desired result.

Here are some color-safe laundry techniques to prevent clothes getting damaged by hard water.

Why Do Clothes Fade After Washing?

Clothes fade with time due to washing. Washing subjects clothes to considerable wear and tear, including friction, heat, harsh detergents, and exposure to sunlight. As fabrics rub against one another, minute fibers break and release color particles. 

Hot water combined with harsh chemicals accelerates this process even further, and with dismaying regularity, dissolves garments with dyes like jeans, which were once deep blue, or black t-shirts that turn dull gray after just a wash or two. 

How to Avoid Color Fading When Washing Clothes — 10 Easy Tricks

Want your favorite outfits to stay fresh and vibrant? Here are 10 tried-and-tested tips that protect colors, preserve fabric quality, and help clothes last longer. And, of course, when in doubt, there are professional laundry services, like Love2Laundry, that know just how to take care of delicate and colored garments. After getting cleaned outfits with no discoloration, the satisfaction would be on another level.

So, here are multiple ways you can use to prevent clothes from fading. Let’s take a look.

1. Sort Your Laundry by Color and Fabric Type

The first step you can follow is to sort your clothes by fabric and color type to prevent color bleeding and fading. Set aside the dark-colored and light-colored outfits. 

Check the fabric type too, for instance, if there are more cotton outfits than silk, separate them first before starting the washing procedure to prevent the risk of color fading.

2. Turn Clothes Inside Out Before Washing

When washing clothes, it’s best to turn them inside out first to protect the color and embellishments on the outfit. Moreover, the residue and reaction of some laundry detergents damage the color and fabric quality.

With this trick, you can avoid laundry color bleeding and carry out a smooth washing procedure. Your outfits will look spotless, and there won’t be any sign of faded texture. If you have a question, ‘Why do new clothes bleed color?’, this will be your answer.

Also Read – Looking to protect your clothes from shortening? Our blog on tips to stop clothes from shrinking will provide you with the details.

3. Wash in Cold Water Whenever Possible

Washing clothes with hot water can cause multiple disadvantages, including shrinking and faded colors. To avoid it, use cold water to wash your outfits and protect them from harmful outcomes. 

This way, you can maintain a laundry color fade protection because cold water keeps the fibers relaxed and removes the stains without any problem.

4. Use a Gentle, Color-Safe Detergent

A harsh laundry detergent with no color-saving properties can damage the color of your precious outfits. To address this situation, consider using a mild and liquid laundry detergent.

Laundry detergents that are safe for the fabric color and don’t contain harsh chemicals can be used to wash outfits with sensitive fibers.  

5. Avoid Overloading the Washing Machine

Stuffing your washing machine with clothes more than its capacity damages the outfits instead of removing stains. That’s because the spin cycle of your washing machine won’t function properly, and the detergent inside will not dissolve completely.

The water and washing cycle can affect the fabrics inside, potentially resulting in discoloration. Always know the capacity of your washer and leave some space so your clothes can get a proper spin.

Also Read – Hesitating to use bleach for the first time? Our blog on choosing the right bleach for colored clothes will guide you.

6. Wash Clothes Less Frequently

People who wash their clothes regularly often feel stressed after noticing the color of their outfits fading. Regular washing is the primary cause of this problem, leading to discoloration.

Try to make a laundry routine to wash clothes less frequently and retain their color. Washing clothes every weekend is an effective technique to avoid color loss.

7. Choose a Gentle or Short Wash Cycle

The gentler the cycle, the less agitation, color fading, and fabric wear there would be. Therefore, a gentler or shorter wash cycle focuses on spinning slowly, adversely affecting these items less. They work best for dark garments or slight soilage of delicate fabrics. Additionally, this will help conserve water and energy, keeping garments looking newer for a longer time. It’s one of the best laundry tips to stop fading.

Also Read – Want to know whether the line dry or tumble dry would be suitable for your clothes? Our blog on line dry vs. tumble dry will guide you.

8. Air Dry Clothes Away from Direct Sunlight

Sunlight can strip the color from your clothes due to ultraviolet rays, which can actually damage the fabric and dyes you are trying to save by drying them. Continuous exposure will cause very fast fading in blacks, reds, and blues. 

Always air-dry clothes in the shade, a covered area, or indoors with good airflow. This easy habit resembles the preservation of original color and the retardation of fabric aging.

9. Use Fabric Softener or Conditioner Occasionally

Clothes fade faster if the laundry detergent is not durable. It smooths out static electricity, lessens fiber-on-fiber friction, and keeps clothes smooth and soft. Most importantly, occasionally using fabric softeners can help keep colors brighter over time by providing a light coating to fibers. 

10. Trust Professional Laundry and Dry Cleaning for Delicates

Some fabrics require professional maintenance. If poorly handled, delicate materials such as silk, wool, chiffon, or beautifully colored designer pieces are at a high risk of fading or losing their shape. 

That is where Love2Laundry’s professional laundry and dry cleaning service can come to your aid. The experts use color-safe detergents, gentler cleaning processes, and precise temperature control to ensure the quality and color of your cherished clothes. You’ll also get free pickup and delivery.

Additional Pro Tips for Long-Lasting Color

Want to keep your clothes bright and colorful in the future? You’ll find multiple tips to use. So, when you’re washing your clothes again, here are some tips you can use.

  • Wash new clothes separately.
  • Use a mesh laundry bag for protection.
  • Don’t over-dry your clothes.
  • Use color-safe laundry detergents.

FAQs – How to Prevent Clothes from Fading

How to fix sun-faded clothes?

There are multiple ways to fix sun-faded clothes using home remedies, such as adding salt and vinegar to the washing process. It brightens the fabric and even restores the color properly. You can wash your clothes with cold water to prevent color fading in the future. 

Does salt restore faded clothes?

Salt works effectively on faded clothes, restoring their color completely. Just add salt to your washing procedure and clean your clothes. The residues on the fabrics will break up easily, and your clothes will return to their original state.

Does vinegar prevent fading?

Using vinegar is one of the most effective ways to prevent clothes from fading and maintain their vibrant color. Add ½ cup of vinegar to the rinsing cycle, and the liquid will freshen up your clothes with bright colors.

Does drying clothes inside out prevent fading?

Drying clothes inside out helps prevent color fading, especially when drying clothes outdoors. The absence of sun will keep the outfit durable and attractive, with a clean and smooth texture.

Keep Your Clothes Vibrant with Professional Laundry Care

Now that you know the techniques to prevent clothes from fading, you won’t have to worry about a faded outfit causing stress. Starting the procedure by sorting clothes according to fabric type and using natural materials like vinegar and salt will help protect the fabric.

Furthermore, the laundry tips to stop fading will keep your clothes spotless and retain the color during the wash. If you want, you can read washing labels and save your clothes.