The Mushroom

A (very) Little Guide to Preventing Fabric Fading

If your project needs washing you may well find that over time the once bright colours fade and begin to look a little lacklustre. Though it’s almost impossible to restore colour once it’s faded, there are some simple, natural methods you can utilise to stop fading in the first place.

In the early 20th century it was common for housewives to add a tablespoon of salt to their washing. This trick works because the chloride in the salt helps seal the colour into the fabric. I have heard it said that salt added to the wash in this way can help to restore the brightness of dull fabric, but personally I’ve never found this to be very effective.

Washing your fabrics on a cold or cool wash isn’t just eco-friendly (and friendly to your budget too!) it will also help to keep the colours of your fabrics bright and fresh. You could also try using a colour brightening detergent for extra effectiveness.

My mum’s favourite tip was to add about half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle. This will freshen up your laundry and help the colours maintain their intensity. To help set their dyes before you wash fabrics for the first time, soak dark fabrics beforehand for around half an hour in water mixed with a half cup of white vinegar and two teaspoons of salt.

Baking soda is also an effective colour preserver just add half a cup to the wash cycle.

And finally, it isn’t just about the washing - when you hang your fabrics out to dry then be sure to turn inside out whenever possible or hang out of direct sunlight as the sun’s rays will fade fabric even more than washing does.