To prevent clothes from bleeding during the wash, it seems sufficient to separate colored items from whites. However, sometimes color transfer occurs even between non-white items. Take note to learn
how to prevent clothes from bleeding during washing.
Why do clothes fade?
When we notice a garment bleeding, we think it's due to poor fabric quality, but in most cases, that's not the case. We can also find good-quality garments that bleed.
This problem stems from the type of fiber used to create the garment.
Likewise, the temperature of the water used for washing is another cause of clothing color bleeding.
Heat causes the dye to soften and come off the fabric if it's not properly fixed. The expelled dye soaks into the water, which, in turn, soaks and stains other garments, creating uneven faded spots.
Tips to know how to avoid discoloration of clothes in the washing machine
While it's true that it's best to always separate light-colored clothes from dark ones, in some cases it's unavoidable to wash them together. And to avoid a disaster, it's important to follow these tips to learn how to prevent color bleeding when washing clothes.
Salt, one of the oldest tricks
One of the oldest tricks to prevent clothes from bleeding during washing is to
soak them in cold water with plenty of salt . Salt cares for the fabric and penetrates deeply to prevent the color from fading during washing.
Pour half a cup of salt into two liters of cold water and soak the garment. Let it soak for 20 to 30 minutes to take effect. Be careful not to leave it longer, as this could have a negative effect on the fabric. For best results,
turn garments inside out before soaking .
Boric acid, the best natural stain remover
Boric acid is one of the most commonly used household chemicals, especially when washing white clothes. Many people prefer it because it
removes stains and replaces other types of detergents . It can be purchased at any pharmacy or supermarket.
Choose garments that are colorfast and
soak them in two liters of water with a teaspoon of boric acid . Be careful not to overdo the amount, as excess boric acid can be toxic if inhaled. Avoid combining several colors in a single soak to avoid adverse effects.
White vinegar to care for your clothes
White vinegar has many uses in the home. It's not only useful for disinfecting and controlling unpleasant odors, but also for caring for clothing.
It's also
used as an alternative to commercial fabric softeners and is sometimes ideal for removing stains. In this case, we used it as a secret ingredient to reduce color loss in darker clothing.
Pour two cups of white vinegar into a container and
soak the color-fast clothing in it for 15 or 20 minutes . Then, wash them with plenty of water and mild soap.
Bay leaves, the ultimate infusion
A simple infusion of bay leaves can care for clothing fabrics, fixing the color and preventing rapid deterioration.
First,
bring one liter of water to a boil . When it reaches a boil, add a handful of bay leaves and let it simmer for 15 minutes over low heat. After this time, remove the leaves and let it cool. Strain the liquid and place the garments in the container for an hour.
Monitor the temperature of the wash water
One of the factors that causes clothes to run during washing is using the wrong water temperature. It's important
to read the washing symbols on each garment's label to ensure the correct temperature is used.
Wash jeans inside out
Jeans,
especially dark-colored ones , tend to bleed slightly the first few times they're washed. In this case, we can prevent color bleeding by washing them inside out, as this prevents the fibers from rubbing against each other. This rubbing is one of the main causes of color loss in jeans.
Hand wash with cold water
Sometimes, it's best to hand-wash clothes in a bucket of cold water. This is recommended
if the garment isn't very dirty and doesn't need major stain removal . It's also recommended for those cases where hot water isn't possible. It will help keep the colors more vibrant and prevent premature wear of the fabric. In another article on our blog, we explain
how to hand-wash underwear to keep them looking perfect.
Use color-catching wipes
These wipes are able to capture colors that bleed from clothing and
prevent them from settling on other garments . Just one wipe is enough to prevent clothing from taking on the color of other garments.
Tricks to recover your faded clothes
We've already seen how to prevent clothes from fading, but it's also interesting to know what to do if your clothes are already faded and we want to restore their original color. To fix this problem, we can apply the homemade tricks we show you below.
Ice
Place the garment in a container with
ice and 3 tablespoons of coarse salt and let it sit for 15 minutes . After this, wash it again in the washing machine and the stains will be gone. If you don't have ice, you can do it with very cold water, although it won't be as effective.
Milk
It's an effective trick, although you'll have to wait longer than in the previous case. To remove the stain,
soak the garment in cold milk and wait until the stain has completely disappeared . Once this is done, put the garments in the washing machine to remove any remaining milk. It's recommended to change the milk every three hours for a faster and more effective result.
Stain remover
Dilute the stain remover
in a container with about 5 liters of water and add the garment. Stir until the stain is gone. Then, rinse and wash the garment again to remove any remaining stain remover. The water must be at a high temperature for this solution to be effective.
Bay leaf and baking soda
In a pot of water, add
a few tablespoons of baking soda and some bay leaves and bring it to a boil . After a while, remove from the heat and let the water cool. Remove the bay leaf when the water is cold and put the clothes in. After a while, you'll notice the clothes are stain-free.
How to remove stains from white clothes?
We can use the above tricks on white clothes. However, in certain cases, they may not work well, so we can follow the tricks below to remove specific stains from white clothes.
Bleach
This is the most common method used to restore whiteness to clothing. However, not all garments can be bleached, so it's important to check the label to be sure. Mix
one part bleach to eight parts water and let it sit for 15 minutes . Then, just rinse and put it in the washing machine, making sure the rest of the clothes are white.
Hydrogen peroxide
Pour
4 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide into a container of water and soak the clothes in it for a maximum of 30 minutes (depending on the intensity of the fade). After that time, wash the clothes in the washing machine as usual. If the stain is persistent, you can combine this mixture with detergent.
Vinegar
Among its many household cleaning applications, vinegar can also be used to remove stains. To do this, mix
1 cup of vinegar and 1 tablespoon of detergent in 2 liters of water and let the garment soak overnight. The next day, hand wash the garment in cold water.
Lemon
Lemon has whitening and antibacterial properties that are ideal for white clothing.
Cut a lemon in half, rub it on the stain, and let the lemon juice soak into the garment . Afterward, let it air dry in the sun and see if the stain disappears. Once the stain is removed, wash the garment again in the washing machine.
By putting all these home remedies into practice, you can extend the life of your favorite garments and learn how to prevent color bleeding. As expected, the effects can vary depending on the type of fabric they're made from. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions to get the best results with the different colors of your
Abanderado underwear .
