Any Tricks to Making Black Clothes STAY BLACK and New?

Updated on October 14, 2010
M.L. asks from San Lorenzo, CA
20 answers

Hi Moms.

Is there any tricks to making black clothes staying and looking new and black? After a while they fade..but I would like to know if there are tricks to making them last a little bit longer.

Thank you to all in advance. I really appreciate it.

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B.B.

answers from New York on

They make a woolite dark made specifically for dark clothes. I use that as my hubbys uniform is black pants and black cotton shirt.

3 moms found this helpful
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M.M.

answers from Dallas on

Wash them inside out w/ only darks and like materials (do not wash denim with lightweight cottons) and do not dry them. I wash mine in warm with regular Tide - they have not faded.

2 moms found this helpful

More Answers

L.M.

answers from Dover on

Most detergents contain ingredients that actually cause clothes to deteriorate and fade. I suggest washing in cold water w/ Mela Power. If you need info on how/where to purchase let me know.

3 moms found this helpful
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B.D.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I think it comes down to the fabric content. I can't say my blacks fade. I typically wash them in cold water with nothing more than regular detergent (free and clear).

Now if I could figure out how to keep my whites from graying/yellowing I'd be happy!

2 moms found this helpful
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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

Wash inside out, with dark colors. Woolite dark also helps.

Part of your problem, however, is your latitude. My blacks fade like crazy when I'm living in sunny states (like CA, FL, even the north east... because they have sunshine in the winter). Here in WA, I can have true blacks for YEARS... because the sun doesn't bleach them as I walk around. Most of our days are overcast if not actually raining, and even our sunny days, the sun is "weak".

One trick for super sunny areas is to get sunscreen mist, and to mist your clothes as well as yourself.

2 moms found this helpful
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A.F.

answers from San Francisco on

I was having this problem and I tried the following, which has seemed to work for me:
- always turn them inside out
- always wash blacks with ONLY other black clothes (no other colors)
- always use cold water and a gentle detergent (woolite or dreft)
- always tumble dry low

I also like the other suggestions you've received so I'm willing to try those, too! Thanks for asking the question and good luck!

2 moms found this helpful
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A.C.

answers from Houston on

There are a couple of detergents on the market that are made especially for dark clothing. Also, reducing friction in the washing machine and dryer...don't overload.

Myself? I basically wear black all the time. A couple of times a year I throw them all in the washing machine with a couple of bottle of RIT dye. It does a good job of refreshing everything and keep them in the same shade of black.

2 moms found this helpful
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E.M.

answers from Johnstown on

White vinegar or woolite.

2 moms found this helpful
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R.P.

answers from Salt Lake City on

I use salt and vinegar. My mom always washed my new jeans in salt and vinegar, just threw some in the washing machine with the detergents. I wanted my jeans to fade them but they always looked new and dark. I just bought an outfit used specically for job interviews. I have washed it several times (because I'm still looking and it needs to look nice) and they haven't faded yet. The Rit isn't bad idea if they are all black but many of mine are a printed fabric, not just straight black.

1 mom found this helpful
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N.P.

answers from Modesto on

I "dye" them black again..........it's not perfect, but it keeps my favorites around a little bit longer. Of course, the clothing needs to be solid black and not checked or patterned with another color :o)

There is directions on the dye bottle

After I dye them, I run my washer through an empty hot water cycle to cleasn out the system so I don't get black on any future load.

Hope this helps!

~N. :o)

1 mom found this helpful

A.J.

answers from Williamsport on

I havent' put a black top in the dryer for 20 years. Wash cold, gentle, hang dry.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.V.

answers from Phoenix on

I wash all my darks on the gentle cycle with cold water, also use a very mild detergent like woolite.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.B.

answers from Sacramento on

Try not to over-wash them.
Air dry them in a warm room in the house if you can.
If they get too badly faded, try re-dying them with RIT dye.

1 mom found this helpful

A.P.

answers from San Francisco on

Dye them with RIT and then wash them in cold water and vinegar. This helps to set the color.

1 mom found this helpful

S.S.

answers from San Francisco on

Wash with other black clothes and add a little bit of vinegar.

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G.B.

answers from Tulsa on

Wash them with other black clothing. No other colors what so ever. You can also use cold water, I don't and I don't see any difference. My black stuff is still fine and I have had some of it years. I dry it on what ever temp is appropriate for the fabric.

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S.R.

answers from San Francisco on

For all dark, solid colored clothes (black, green, navy, burgundy, etc.) go to your local fabric shop and pick up a bottle or box of Rit fabric dye. Go around your house and pick up everything you own that is the color of the dye batch you'll be running and then run the load in the washing machine according to package directions. I've done this in both plastic tub and stainless steel tub washing machines and have never had a problem with the dye seeping into the plastic of the washing machine itself and onto future loads of clothes (I've heard this complaint from others though, so I'm including it fyi... although it had never been my experience and I do this all the time).
Anyway, run your load as normal, and then instead of taking the clothes out of the washer, run them through a second load with the vinegar as others have already described.
This is a fantastic way of reviving all of your clothes, towels, sheets, whatever you have that is solid colored.

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T.H.

answers from San Francisco on

I read in a little book about stretching your dollars to add salt to the first wash and it will help black fabrics from fading.

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C.F.

answers from San Francisco on

I never put mine in the dryer, I hang them to dry. I also wash in cold water. That helps keep the color a bit longer.

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M.S.

answers from Sacramento on

Wash in cold water, no "color - safe" bleach, and DO NOT put in the dryer. Line dry. Will keep your darks naturally dark.

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