Sooner or later almost all black clothes begin to fade if they are repeatedly washed and dried in the sun or in the dryer. In the end, all that remains is a wardrobe full of gray shirts and trousers. Instead of going shopping to replace faded clothes, try one of the following techniques to restore the color of your clothes at home.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Using the Tincture
Step 1. Determine if the fabric can be dyed
Fabric dye is most effective on natural fibers, such as cotton, linen and silk. However, synthetic ones such as viscose and nylon also lend themselves to this treatment. Fabrics that do not absorb color well are those made of 100% polyester and elastane. Therefore avoid any attempt.
- Also, do not try to dye "dry clean only" clothing.
- Each fabric absorbs color differently, giving variable results. If you are unsure about a particular item of clothing, test it on a corner.
Step 2. Prepare the workspace
Before you begin, cover the area where you are going to work with a plastic sheet or a few sheets of newspaper. Get sponges and paper towels to keep on hand in case the dye spills. Use plastic bowls, stainless steel buckets, or a stainless steel sink to soak the garment in the dye.
- Do not use the porcelain or fiberglass bathtub, otherwise it will stain.
- Wear a pair of rubber gloves during treatment and rinsing.
Step 3. Fill the stainless steel bucket or sink with hot water
The warmer it is, the more intense the color will be. 60 ° C is the highest temperature that allows you to revive the black. Make sure you use enough water to completely submerge the garment.
If you want a deeper black and the tap water isn't hot enough, use a saucepan, kettle, or microwave to heat it
Step 4. Dissolve the powdered tincture in another container filled with hot water
Melt it completely using a stick or other tool that you can color to turn until the color is evenly distributed. If you're using a liquid dye, all you need to do is shake it well before pouring it into the bucket.
To make sure you are using the dye correctly for the weight of the garment, read the product instructions. The amount needed varies from product to product, so check the package or package insert for exact doses
Step 5. Pour the dye into the container where you are going to immerse the garment (bucket or sink)
Make sure the mixture mixes well with the hot water. The container must contain enough water to allow you to freely move the garment inside and turn it into the dye solution. This way, the result will be uniform.
- Add a tablespoon of laundry detergent into the dye. It will help the fabric absorb the color. Stir it until it has melted well.
- If you need to dye cotton, viscose, ramie, or linen, add 280g of table salt to the dye solution for a more intense color.
- If you need to dye nylon, silk and wool, add 240ml of white vinegar to get a more intense color.
Step 6. Soak the garment in the dye
The longer it soaks, the darker the result will be. You can leave it for a maximum of one hour. In the meantime, you will have to keep turning it.
- The solution should keep warm all the time, so use a stove, microwave, or kettle to heat the water to top up.
- Alternatively, you can use a large stainless steel pot and place it on the lit stove in order to keep the temperature of the coloring solution constant.
- If you soak the garment in hot water for a few minutes before putting it in the dye, you will soften the fibers and prepare them to absorb the color.
Step 7. Remove the garment from the dye solution and rinse it with warm water first
The heat will remove the excess dye. Then pass it under cold water until it is clear.
- When you remove the garment from the dye, it will appear darker than it will when dry.
- Turn it inside out and put it in the washing machine. Wash it alone with warm water and mild detergent. Use the program for delicates.
Step 8. Hang it out to dry or use the dryer
You can use either method, but it is preferable to air dry it so that it retains the color better. Once dry, you can wear it.
- The first three times you wear a dyed garment, wash it alone in cold water using a program for delicates and a mild detergent, without bleach.
- After that you can wash it with other clothes of the same color that have not been dyed, but always use cold water and a mild detergent.
Method 2 of 3: Using Coffee
Step 1. Put the clothes in the washing machine
If you need to darken more than one garment, make sure they are all the same color. Choose the program you normally use with cold water.
- This method is most effective on cotton garments, such as faded black T-shirts. The result will not be as safe on other types of fabrics.
- If you want to revive a very intense black, coffee is less effective than black dye, but gives a more natural effect.
Step 2. Make a very strong coffee
The stronger it is, the darker the final result will be, so remember this when you load the coffee pot. You will need 500ml of coffee, so use a large mocha, not one for a couple of cups.
- If you prefer, you can also get similar results by using 500ml of black tea instead of coffee.
- How you prepare the coffee is not important as long as it is strong and dark. You can also use instant coffee if you have one at home. You don't have to use the coffee maker.
Step 3. Once you have prepared 500ml of coffee, pour it into the washing machine drum when rinsing begins
Close the door and let the machine and coffee do their work. Let the wash finish normally.
- If you have used fabric dye at other times, you will notice that the smell of coffee is more pleasant during and at the end of the process.
- This method is not even toxic and leaves no traces of color in the washing machine drum.
Step 4. Put your clothes to dry
If you use the dryer, the color may fade, so get used to hanging black clothes to preserve the color. Once dry, you can wear them.
Method 3 of 3: Protect Colors
Step 1. Wash dark clothing only when necessary
Each wash helps to fade them further, so the less you wash them, the better. This is especially true for jeans, which lose color more easily.
- To avoid washing them too often, take them off and leave them to air after wearing them. Put them on a hanger and hang them for a day before storing them in the closet.
- Wash them if you have worn them and aired them 2 or 3 times.
Step 2. Sort clothes by color and weight before washing
Dark colors go together, otherwise they can fade and stain lighter clothing. Also divide them according to the weight and type of fabric.
If you wash light clothes with heavier fabrics, the first ones can get damaged, while the others won't be as clean as they should
Step 3. Hand wash the most delicate and composed garments with more fragile fibers
The movements of the washing machine are too aggressive for this type of garment. Then, wash them by hand in cold water to preserve their color and prevent them from spoiling.
- If you don't want to wash them by hand, you may want to get a netted bag for delicate items. Put them inside before putting them in the washing machine. This way, you will limit the damage.
- If there is any garment that you are not sure you can put in the washing machine, take it to the dry cleaners and ask to dry clean it.
Step 4. Turn black clothes inside out before washing
In this way, you will prevent them from fading due to the movements of the basket. During washing, the fibers of dark garments are subjected to a tension that deteriorates them until they become discolored.
Step 5. Wash your black clothes in cold water using a program for delicate clothes
Hot water can fade them and any other program can ruin the color and be very aggressive. So, choose a delicate wash to protect them and keep them longer.
If your washing machine allows you to set the washing intensity, press the delicate level button (unless your clothes are very dirty). The treatment will be gentler
Step 6. Use a detergent specially formulated for black or colored clothes
Do not use regular laundry detergent with bleach or other bleaching substances. There are many products on sale for washing dark clothes, so you won't have a hard time finding it.
Use the minimum amount of detergent needed to wash dark clothes. If you put too much on, they can fade
Step 7. Hang your clothes out to dry
Do not put black clothes in the dryer, otherwise they can fade further. Take them out of the washing machine, shake them and hang them one at a time on the clothesline so they can dry.
