How to Wash Colored Clothes Without Damaging the Fabric

Your colored clothes are fading and bleeding. Maybe your bright reds are turning pink, or your blues are looking gray. Colored clothes lose their vibrancy when washed incorrectly, but you can prevent fading and color bleeding with the right methods. Here’s how to wash colored clothes without damaging the fabric.

Colored clothes fade due to hot water (opens fibers and releases dye), agitation (causes friction that removes dye), sunlight (UV rays break down dye), and detergent residue (dulls colors). Color bleeding happens when loose dye transfers between clothes in the wash. Washing colored clothes correctly requires cold water, gentle cycles, color-safe detergent, and sorting by color.

To wash colored clothes, sort by color first, turn inside out, wash in cold water on a gentle cycle, use Tide Free and Gentle, add vinegar to the rinse, air dry or use low heat, and store away from sunlight. Don’t use hot water, don’t use chlorine bleach, and don’t wash new items with other clothes.

What Works

Sort by Color First

Sort clothes into groups: whites, lights (pastels, light grays), darks (blacks, navy, dark gray), and brights (reds, oranges, yellows). Wash each group separately.

Turn Clothes Inside Out

Turning colored clothes inside out reduces friction on the outer surface, which prevents fading.

Wash in Cold Water

Cold water (60 to 80F) prevents dye from bleeding and fading. Hot water opens fibers and releases dye.

Use a Gentle Cycle

A gentle or permanent press cycle reduces agitation, which reduces friction and fading.

Use Tide Free and Gentle

Tide Free and Gentle is gentle on fabric and doesn’t leave residue that dulls colors. Use 2 tablespoons per regular load.

Add Vinegar to the Rinse

Add half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse. Vinegar removes detergent residue and helps set the dye.

Add Baking Soda to the Wash

Add half a cup of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda to the wash. Baking soda softens water and helps maintain color.

Wash New Items Separately

Wash new colored items separately for the first 3 to 4 washes. New items bleed the most dye in the first few washes.

Test for Colorfastness

Before washing a new item with other clothes, test for colorfastness. Dampen a hidden area and press with a white cloth. If dye transfers, wash separately.

Use Color Catcher Sheets

Use color catcher sheets to absorb loose dye and prevent transfer.

Don’t Overload the Washer

Overloading increases friction between clothes, which causes fading.

Air Dry or Use Low Heat

Air drying is gentlest on colored clothes. If you use the dryer, use the lowest heat setting.

Dry Inside Out

Dry colored clothes inside out to protect the outer surface.

Don’t Dry in Direct Sunlight

UV rays break down dye. Dry colored clothes in the shade or indoors.

Use Lysol for Disinfecting

Add Lysol Laundry Sanitizer to the rinse for heavily soiled loads.

Clean the Machine Monthly

Use affresh Washing Machine Cleaner monthly.

Pre-Treat Stains

Pre-treat stains on colored clothes with:

• Oil and grease: Dawn Ultra Dish Soap
• Food and organic: OxiClean Max Force Spray
• Heavy grease: Shout Advanced Grease Busting Foam
• Ink: Amodex Ink and Stain Remover

What to Avoid

Don’t use hot water. Hot water opens fibers and releases dye. Use cold water.

Don’t use chlorine bleach. Chlorine bleach strips color. Use oxygen bleach if needed.

Don’t wash new items with other clothes. New items bleed dye. Wash separately for the first 3 to 4 washes.

Don’t mix colors. Wash darks with darks, lights with lights, brights with brights.

Don’t use the heavy duty cycle. Heavy agitation causes friction and fading. Use gentle or permanent press.

Don’t dry in direct sunlight. UV rays break down dye. Dry in the shade.

Don’t use too much detergent. Excess detergent leaves residue that dulls colors.

Don’t use fabric softener. It can dull colors. Use vinegar instead.

FAQ

How do you wash colored clothes without fading? Sort by color, turn inside out, wash in cold water on a gentle cycle, use Tide Free and Gentle, add vinegar to the rinse, air dry or use low heat, and dry away from direct sunlight.

What temperature should you wash colored clothes at? Cold water (60 to 80F). Cold water prevents dye from bleeding and fading.

How do you prevent color bleeding in the wash? Sort by color, wash new items separately for the first 3 to 4 washes, use cold water, test for colorfastness, and use color catcher sheets.

Can you use bleach on colored clothes? Use oxygen bleach only. Don’t use chlorine bleach on colored clothes as it strips color.

How do you keep colored clothes looking new? Wash in cold water, use a gentle cycle, turn inside out, add vinegar to the rinse, air dry, don’t dry in sunlight, and don’t wash with different colors.

References

1. Tide. “How to Wash Colored Clothes.” tide.com.
2. The Spruce. “Colored Clothes Guide.” thespruce.com.
3. Good Housekeeping. “Color Care Guide.” goodhousekeeping.com.
4. Consumer Reports. “Laundry Guide.” consumerreports.org.