It’s frustrating when you buy a new shirt or pair of pants, only to realize that they’ve faded after washing and drying them. Faded clothes don’t posses the same striking level of visual appeal as their original counterparts, making them less than ideal for fashion-savvy men. So, what can you do to protect your clothes from fading?
Wash them Inside Out
Try to get into the habit of washing your clothes inside out. It only takes a couple of seconds to flip a dress shirt inside out, but doing so will reduce the risk of fading. Granted, water from the washing machine will still reach the entirety of your shirt, but the outside will remain largely protected; thus, reducing the risk of fading. This alone isn’t a fool-proof way to prevent fading but when combined with other techniques, such as those mentioned here, it can certainly help.
Wash with Vinegar
Some men may turn their heads (or noses) at the thought of washing their clothes with vinegar. After all, doesn’t vinegar smell bad? While it’s true that vinegar has somewhat of a pungent odor, it actually works to clean and deodorize clothes. Furthermore, vinegar will protect your clothes from fading. So the next time you get ready to wash a load of clothes, pour approximately one cup of distilled, filtered white vinegar into the washing machine and let it work its magic.
Wash with Salt
No, that’s not a typo. Washing your clothes with salt can also help to protect against fading. Add about 1/4 cup of table salt into the washing machine and it will preserve your clothes original color.
Wash with Baking Soda
If you don’t have access to vinegar — or if you simply want to try something else — use baking soda. Baking soda has the ability to clean, brighten and protect clothes from fading. Just toss 1/2 cup of baking soda into the washing machine and it does the rest.
Wash Similar Colors Together
I know this probably sounds like common sense, but it’s still worth mentioning that you should wash similar colored clothes together. Granted, it may take longer to separate your clothes based on color, but this is an essential step in protecting them from fading. When clothes of different colors are washed together, it may cause the colors to “bleed,” resulting in a dingy appearance. This is easily avoided, however, by separating your clothes based on color
References:
http://www.organicauthority.com/sanctuary/4-natural-ways-to-keep-colors-bright-clothes-laundry.html