How to wash colored clothes without losing color

Among the routine household activities, washing clothes is not one of the most appreciated, since it involves a lot of time and work from sorting, prewashing, washing, spinning and drying the clothes.

Thanks to available technology (long live the washing machine!), work is a little easier today. Even so, the correct separation of the clothes and the prewash process are decisive to maintain the durability and color of the clothes.

Check out the care – from separation to drying – that you should have when washing your colored clothes.

How to separate clothes

The first thing to do before washing clothes is to sort them by color. According to personal organizer Adriani Gonçalves, the separation should be done as follows: “light colors (white, beige, gray), dark colors (black, navy) and intermediate colors (red, orange)”. You need to wash each group separately.

It is also necessary to separate delicate items such as underwear, viscose, knitwear, wool, silk, embroidered and lace fabrics. According to Adriani, the centrifuge process in a machine spoils the fibers of some fabrics of this nature and it is recommended that the pieces be washed by hand.

If there are pieces that are very dirty, grimy or with clay, the separation must also be done, because, in this case, there is a need for them to soak in the machine for a longer time.

How to wash clothes: step by step

Follow the instructions to wash your colored pieces to avoid stains and the color fading in the process.

1. Prewash

When the clothes are very dirty or stained, the ideal is to carry out a prewash by hand. It is important to note that the washing machine is an aid in washing clothes, but it does not have the ability to remove all the dirt. That’s why the prewash process is so important.

To make it easier, before putting the clothes in the machine, examine them one by one checking the following items:

• Remove stains and remove thick dirt with coconut soap, neutral or prewash detergent before putting the piece in the machine;
• If the laundry is very dirty, let it soak for 30 minutes or more;
• Close the zippers, buttons and secure the hooks to prevent them from ruining other parts;
• Tie the cords and belts without tightening too much;
• Examine all pockets and remove everything inside them;
• Unfold the sleeves of the shirts.

2. Washing and centrifuging

After prewashing, put the clothes in the machine respecting its maximum limit. For clothes to be well washed, they need space to move around. So don’t overfill the washer.

After that it’s time to adjust the machine’s water level according to the volume of laundry. This level varies with each washer. After the machine starts to work, go back to check if the amount of water is enough. If clothes are not covered in water, increase the level.

Another tip is to dissolve the soap powder in the water before putting it in the machine, to avoid stains on the clothes.

3. Drying

Hang the clothes on the clothesline giving space between them so that the wind can circulate easily. Adriani advises to extend dark and colored clothes inside out, always in the shade. Shirts and blouses should preferably be hung on hangers.

If you have a clothes dryer in your house, it will make the job easier, but don’t forget to check the lint filter cleanliness. Also remember not to exaggerate the amount of clothes inside.

8 tips for not fading and extra care with clothes

1. To preserve the color of clothes, add half a cup of vinegar or five tablespoons of salt for each wash cycle. According to Adriani, this procedure gives the color durability, as salt and vinegar have fixing substances;
2. The fabric softener must be diluted in water, regardless of whether the machine has a separate reservoir for it. Excess fabric softener causes stains and impairs the maintenance of the washing machine;
3. Adding half a cup of household ammonia to the wash water will help to brighten colored clothes;
4. In case of dark and colored clothes, turn the clothes inside out before washing to help prevent fading;
5. In cases of delicate clothes, bags made of polyester can be used, which serve to protect the clothes. This case is only valid for clothes that can be machine washed, but need protection. The tip from Adriani Gonçalves, personal organizer, is to use pillowcases that, when used inside out, fulfill the same function as protective bags;
6. For stain removal, it is recommended to use only chlorine-free and oxygen-based bleach;
7. For people allergic to fabric softener scent, white vinegar is a good substitute;
8. To check if the colored part releases ink, do the following test: moisten a part of the reverse side of the colored part and then place a dry, white cloth on top. Hot iron over the cloth. “If the cloth becomes stained, it is a sign that the fabric is leaking ink and the garment must be washed separately from the others,” explains Adriani.

If you have any other suggestions on how to sort, pre-wash, wash, spin and dry clothes, share them with us in the comments section.