Nobody likes to see their favorite clothes appear faded or worn by the passage of time, so much so that they have to give it up. Actually, it is not necessary to get rid of faded clothes: there are tricks that allow them to recover their initial appearance.
What makes clothes fade?
Clothes tend to fade in the wash cycle due to hot water washes, strong detergents, agitation during washing, and excessive drying.
The dye itself can also cause staining on other garments and discoloration if it is not well fixed or if the wrong type of dye was used on a certain fabric. Friction between items of clothing can also cause the fibers of the fabric to break down, resulting in a faded appearance.
These factors affect the tint of your clothing, but they can be minimized by washing clothes in cold water on a delicate cycle, as well as air-drying them to prevent overdrying.
How to wash clothes to prevent them from losing color
The secret is to make small changes: run short wash cycles in cold water. According to a recent study published in a trade journal, fabrics rub during long wash cycles and lose more color pigments.
Also, the hotter the water, the more the fibers swell, contributing to color fading and wear to the garment.
How to recover the color of faded or worn fabrics
Next, we offer you 3 tips to recover the color of faded or worn clothes.
1. Salt water wash
Fill a bucket with cold water, adding ice if possible. Add a handful of salt and mix well.
Soak the garment in water for about 20 minutes, then rinse and let it dry in a ventilated and shady place.
2. Potato trick
Soak the faded garment in a saucepan filled with water. Bring it to a boil and add some previously peeled potatoes.
Turn off the stove and wait about 10 minutes, then let it cool, press and wash as usual.
3. Wash with bay leaf and bicarbonate
Pour 3 tablespoons of baking soda and 10 bay leaves into a bucket filled with hot water. Soak the bleached item in the solution for 20 minutes, then rinse.
Now that you know the three tips to recover the color of your faded clothes, try putting them into practice, so you don’t have to give up your favorite clothes, or have to leave them lying around, turned into old rags.