It’s an age-old question: Do I prewash my fabrics, or not?
In addition to getting any shrinkage out of the way before you sew with the fabric, prewashing can keep dark fabric dyes (blacks, reds, and purples) from bleeding onto lighter-colored fabrics.
Fortunately, there are several natural remedies to help fabric colors stay bright when laundered. To keep fabrics from fading in the wash, follow these simple steps for using some common items from around your house!
Don’t let those brilliant hues escape your fabrics, especially if you’ve already invested hours into stitching up completed projects, like a garment or quilt.
Here are a few natural methods to keep fabrics from fading:
Salt
Add a tablespoon of salt to the wash, and your clothing packs a colorful punch when it comes out of the dryer. The reason? The chloride in salt actually helps to seal the color in fabrics, thus keeping it from fading. Try this out on your finished quilts to keep the colors bright. Everything, including handmade garments, should come out of the wash with all of its color intact.
But what if your fabrics have already faded? Some say that salt can actually help restore the brightness of dull and over-laundered material.
Cold water
Washing fabrics in cold water will not only help you cut down on your bills, but it will also help to keep your fabric colors from fading. Pair the cold water cycle with a color brightening detergent to boost your colors. We do not recommend using a brightening soap.
Vinegar
Did you know that white vinegar can help to keep fabric colors from fading? If you add ½ cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle, the liquid will freshen up your laundry and help colors maintain their intensity. Prior to a first washing, you can also soak dark fabrics for 30 minutes in water mixed with ½ cup of vinegar and 2 teaspoons of salt to help set the dyes.
Baking soda
It’s not just for erasing odors from your refrigerator or keeping your teeth white. Baking soda can also be added to your laundry to help fabrics maintain their brightness. Add ½ cup of baking soda during the wash cycle to try it out.
If you still have questions about keeping your fabrics looking bright, contact InnStyle. You can also call 1-800-877-4667, where our knowledgeable staff will be happy to assist you.
And be sure to visit our website to learn more about our products, and read our blog for other housecleaning tips. Good luck!
Hello,
I just wanted to ask whether or not there was a certain amount of clothes and a certain volume of water to be used for 1/2 cup of white vinegar and salt?😊
1/2 cup of vinegar goes into a normal load of laundry, during the rinse cycle, into your washing machine.
Thank you for your question. I hope this helps.