Keeping your clothes in pristine condition can seem like an unattainable task, whether that’s making sure whites remain sparkling, or preventing colours from fading. However, one cleaning guru has shared her simple method for making sure dark and black clothes retain their original appearance every time they’re washed.
Clothes tend to fade when washed due to hot water washes, harsh chemical detergents, but can also lose colour by being agitated during a wash and overdrying. According to Whirlpool, an item’s dye can also cause bleeding and fading if it is not well-set or if the wrong type of dye was used on a certain fabric. Chantel Mila, also known as Mama Mila on TikTok, explained she keeps her dark and black clothes fade-free in a recent video.
When it comes to putting her black clothes in the washing machine, Chantel simply adds one extra ingredient: salt.
Salt helps prevent clothes from fading by acting as a ‘colour-setting’ agent, which helps to lock in the dye’s molecules within the fabric’s fibres.
This will help minimise any colour bleeding and prevent black dye washing out during a cycle.
Simply add half a cup of salt into the washing machine drum with the clothes, and set on a cold or a delicate cycle.
Chantel’s video has been viewed over 92,400 times.
Whirlpool also recommended some alternative methods for keeping black clothes dark, including washing items inside out on a cold water wash or a delicate cycle in the washing machine.
The clothes can then be dried on a low heat or air dried to retain their colour.
It’s also important to take a look at a garment’s care label to make sure they are being washed and dried correctly.
