Black jeans are a staple in any wardrobe, but they generally have a bad flaw: every time you wear or wash them they get a little discolored. Day after day, the indigo dye that is used to color your jeans can stain your other clothes and even your skin. Stopping this process is not possible, but luckily you can take action early to prevent the problem and re-dye the fabric if necessary. By applying the appropriate techniques, you can revive your faded black jeans and make the result last over time. Read on to find out how to revive the black color of your favorite jeans.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Dyeing Faded Black Jeans
Step 1. Take the time to re-dye your jeans
It is best to choose a day when you will have several free hours. You'll need to soak them, let them dry, and clean up the workspace.
First wash your pair of black jeans. Dirty fabric cannot absorb the dye well
Step 2. Purchase the dye product
Go to the supermarket and buy a liquid or powder dye for fabrics, you can choose from numerous brands. Once at home, read the instructions on the package. You may need to boil some water or you may be able to use the washing machine instead of a sink or basin to dye your jeans.
- Liquid colors are more concentrated and have already been dissolved in water, so a small dose is enough.
- If you have preferred a powder product, you will first need to dissolve it in boiling water.
- Use the appropriate amount of dye. Follow the directions on the product carefully to make sure you add the correct amount of water.
Step 3. Prepare everything you need
You will need your faded jeans, the dye product, a large metal spoon or a pair of pliers to move the soaking pants, a pair of rubber gloves, a plastic cover (or some sheets of newspaper) to protect the work area, a sponge or paper towel and a sink or tub to rinse the jeans after dyeing them. Make sure you have any other tools listed on the product packaging handy as well.
- Prepare your work area by lining it with the plastic cover (or newspaper) to avoid staining the floor or surrounding surfaces with paint.
- Avoid dyeing or rinsing your jeans in a porcelain or fiberglass sink as the fabric dye may stain it.
Step 4. Soak the jeans for the indicated time
The longer they soak, the darker the final color will be.
- Stir the water frequently while the pants are soaking, following the directions on the fabric dye package. Moving the jeans helps prevent certain parts from appearing darker than others.
- Consider using a dye-fixing product on fabrics as well. Once you have completed the jeans dyeing operations, you can apply a fixative, before rinsing them, to make the intense black last longer. You can purchase a fixing agent at a specialty store or online, or you can use distilled white vinegar.
Step 5. Rinse your pants
Rinse your jeans with cold running water until you notice that the water at the bottom of the sink or tub is perfectly clean. Then squeeze them carefully.
Step 6. Wash and dry your freshly dyed jeans
Use cold water and a detergent formulated for delicate clothes and do not add any other items to the washing machine during the wash cycle.
If you have a dryer, put the jeans to dry on the lowest temperature available or cold to keep the new color bright and unaltered
Step 7. Clean up the workspace
Throw the colored soaking water down the sink drain and thoroughly rinse the surfaces and items you used during the dyeing process with cold running water.
Part 2 of 2: Preventing Black Jeans from Fading
Step 1. Set the new color
Before putting on your jeans again, it's best to soak them to bond the dye to the fabric. Pour cold water into a basin, add 250 ml of vinegar and a tablespoon of salt. At this point, turn the jeans inside out and immerse them in the liquid.
The vinegar and salt will act as a sealant on the new tint
Step 2. Wash your pants before putting them on
Put them in the washing machine for several wash cycles with cold water to remove the excess dye that will otherwise transfer to the fabric of your other garments contributing to a new fading of the jeans.
Use a spray formulated to protect fabrics or to fix colors on freshly dyed garments. Both products act as a shield on fabrics, so you can use them to prevent initial discoloration
Step 3. Wash your dyed jeans alone or with other dark garments
Use the mildest wash cycle and cold water.
- Turn the pants inside out before putting them in the washing machine. Do not worry, they will wash just as well, but externally they will not lose color due to bumps against the drum.
- Purchase a high-quality liquid detergent formulated specifically for black and dark fabrics. Products of this type have the ability to make chlorine contained in the water harmless which can cause clothing to discolour.
Step 4. Try other washing methods
The ideal would be to wash the jeans in the washing machine as little as possible, there are other solutions to get them clean again.
- Hand washing them is even better than using the washing machine set on the gentlest cycle available. Fill the sink with water, add a few drops of detergent and soak the jeans for an hour.
- Spray them with a solution of water and vodka. Fill a spray bottle with water and vodka in equal proportions, spray the solution on your pants, and then leave them in the freezer overnight to kill the bacteria. You can also use water and vinegar in the same sizes.
- Clean them with steam to eliminate bad smells and creases.
- Dry cleaning is another possibility. If there are any stains, show them to the laundry staff so they can remove them.
Step 5. Hang the jeans out to dry or put them in the dryer on the lowest possible temperature
Heat causes fabrics to discolour, so it's best to let the pants air dry naturally or tumble dry on the lowest available temperature or cold.
- If you have the option of drying them outdoors, choose a dry, shady area. Ultraviolet rays can damage and discolor fabrics.
- Don't leave jeans in the dryer for too long. Take them out when they are still slightly damp to preserve the integrity of the fabric.
