Fabric manufacturers use dyes or pigments when making a colored garment. They do this through a process called pigmentation which involves applying a layer of dye over the fabric to color it.
Color fading occurs when the pigment in the dye loses its molecular attraction to the fabric and starts fading. This can happen after just a single wash or after multiple washes, depending on the quality of the fabric and the dye.
At Washup, we have received several queries regarding color fading and whether there’s a way to prevent it. Let’s go over why it happens and how you can retain the color of your garments for a longer period.
Why Do Garments Start Losing Color?
Color fading can happen due to a number of reasons. One of the most common causes is bleaching, either by too much exposure to the sun or through chemical bleaches. This is why you might notice that your colored garments turn a couple of shades lighter if you accidentally leave them out to air-dry for too long.
Using hot water when washing your clothes is another reason why they lose color relatively quickly as it does not go well with different kind of fabrics.
Tips to Prevent Color Fading
While it may not be entirely possible for you to prevent a garment’s color from fading as it is inevitable with time, you can however try to retain the color for a longer period.
There are certain steps that you can take in order to slow down the color fading process for your garments.
Use Cold Water
Warm water breaks down fibers in a fabric which leads to color fading while cold water prevents color bleeding. Use cold water to keep dye locked in for a longer time. This is especially useful for fabrics like linen, silk, etc.
In addition to that, look for a detergent compatible with cold water for best results.
Skip the Dryer
Avoid tumble drying your clothes as it can make the surface of the garment fibers rough which makes the colors look faded.
Air dry your clothes but make sure that you don’t leave them out in the sun for too long as natural bleaching can occur because of overexposure to sunlight. This makes garments lose their pigmentation as well.
Turn the Garment Inside Out
Before putting your load in the washer, turn the garments inside out as this can protect the outer fibers from wearing out in the wash. Exposed fibers wear out more quickly and fade faster as well.
It is better that the fibers on the inside of your garments wear out quicker instead of the fibers on the outside as people are not likely to see the inside of a garment.
Cure Your Clothes
By curing a garment, you can lock dye within a garment, making the color fade a lot slower while also making sure the dye won’t ruin other items in the laundry. This is mandatory for certain types of fabrics which fade relatively easily during washing.
Curing a garment involves soaking it overnight in white vinegar and then washing it as usual the next morning. This is one of the most recommended ways to prevent color from fading quickly.
How Can Washup Help Protect Your Garments from Overtime Fading?
At Washup, we get plenty of questions from people asking how they can prevent their clothes from losing color after a couple of washes. We always advice our customers to pay attention to laundry labels and launder the clothes according to the instructions on them.
If you’re having trouble understanding what the labels specify then we can be of assistance. Washup offers washing, ironing, and folding services for your garments, bedding, and bath wear. We use the highest quality products and most appropriate techniques to clean your garments while making sure that they don’t lose color during washes.
Get in touch with us to place your order. We guarantee pickup from your doorstep and your clean clothes delivered back in 96 hours.
