When it comes to laundry, sometimes a little planning and preparation can make a big difference in helping prevent color fading.
Like all laundry tips, it’s important to first check your garment’s care label to confirm your cleaning approach and maximize the item’s lifespan.
Washers and dryers can be rough on clothes and laundry colors. When you turn your clothing inside out, you’re protecting the outside of your garments from friction that happens when they spin together with other items in the washer. If you don’t already, you may want to take the extra step of sorting your clothes by color to help prevent laundry color bleeding, too.
This is one of the exceptions to the rule of the care label. If your care label says you should wash on warm, beware that warm water can release color. For laundry color fade protection, washing in cold water is your best bet.
Fabric softener, sometimes called “fabric conditioner,” can be a great addition to your laundry day routine. In addition to the softness most people associate with this type of product, some fabric softeners like Snuggle® SuperCare™️ liquid fabric softener actually help keep clothes looking newer, longer versus the leading liquid value detergent alone. Its formula is also designed to help prevent wear and tear and color fade. For additional protection, you can level up your laundry lineup with the scent boosters from the same product line for protection from color bleeding and color fading.
Even with the clothes turned inside out and set to a cold-water wash, it doesn’t hurt to add the extra layer of care by washing your clothes on a gentle cycle to keep clothes from fading.
If you have the space to air dry indoors or out, it’s a safer bet than higher heat settings of an electric dryer. If that’s not an option, make sure not to overdo the heat and dry until just dry. If you’re opting for drying outdoors on a line, you’ll want to be sure to keep your clothes inside out to avoid color fading from the sun.
