When it comes to washing, nothing is more annoying than washed-out colors, faded favorite shirts or discoloration from leaking textiles. However, with the right washing technique, your colorful garments will stay fresh and colorful for longer. While washing whites is relatively straightforward, there are a few things to bear in mind when washing colored laundry. Here you can find out how to properly care for your colored textiles and preserve their colors for a long time.
Washing colored laundry: sorting first
Before you fill the washing machine, you should sort your colored laundry carefully. First, sort them by color: Dark colors such as black, dark blue or dark green in one group, medium shades such as red, light blue or green in another and light shades in a third. New, intensely colored textiles in particular should be washed separately at first, as they often release color.
Check the care labels before washing. Not all brightly colored garments can be washed at the same temperatures. Delicate materials such as silk or viscose require special care and should not be washed together with more robust fabrics such as cotton.
Turn your clothes inside out before washing. This protects the outer, visible side from abrasion and direct contact with detergent, keeping colors bright for longer. For pants, close the zippers and buttons to minimize friction.
The right temperature and the right detergent
For colored laundry, less is more – both in terms of temperature and detergent. Most colored textiles retain their color intensity the longest if they are washed at low temperatures. 30 °C is perfectly sufficient for normally soiled colored laundry and is gentle on the colors. For heavier soiling, you can increase the temperature to 40 °C, but you should not go above this.
Use a special color detergent that is formulated without optical brighteners and bleaching agents. These ingredients, which are contained in heavy-duty detergents, can attack and fade colors. Liquid detergents are often more suitable for colored laundry than powders, as they dissolve well even at low temperatures and leave no residue.
Use the detergent sparingly – too much detergent can build up in the fibers, making the colors look dull. Follow the dosage instructions on the packaging and take into account the degree of soiling and the water hardness in your region.
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Gentle washing programs and helpful additives
If possible, choose a gentle or easy-care program with a reduced spin speed. This reduces the mechanical load on the textiles and protects the colors. An additional rinse cycle can help to completely remove detergent residues that could otherwise damage the colors.
For particularly valuable or intensely colored garments, a color fixer added to the wash water can help. These products seal the colors and prevent bleeding. A dash of vinegar in the last rinse (approx. 50 ml) can also refresh and fix the colors.
You can do without fabric softener
Do not use fabric softener on sportswear and functional clothing, as it can impair the special properties of these textiles. It can be used sparingly for normal colored laundry, but fabric softeners can also leave a film on the fibers over time, which makes the colors appear duller.
Proper care of your colored laundry begins with sorting and ends with drying – preferably in the shade, as direct sunlight can fade the colors. With these simple tips, your favorite colorful pieces will stay bright and vibrant for longer – for an outfit that looks just as colorful as it did on day one.
Source: Süddeutsche
