Surely, every person has at least one item or items in their wardrobe that are black. But the fact that they are dark does not protect them from stains, so from time to time black underwear/black sweaters/pants and skirts have to be washed.
And the question arises: how to do this without losing the intensity of the color? After all, it is no secret that black clothes can fade a lot when washed and turn from a single-color dark into a dark one with streaks and stripes.
Here are a few rules to keep in mind when planning to wash black items of clothing made from different fabrics.
First, cotton, linen and synthetic black items can be machine washed, but it is better to use washing gel instead of powder. Why? Powders are rinsed out worse and can leave unsightly whitish marks on the fabric. To maintain the richness of the black color, set the water temperature to no higher than 40 degrees, and perform the spin and rinse mode at the minimum number of revolutions.
Rule number two: before washing, black items must be turned inside out, pockets checked, and all zippers/buttons fastened.
Pockets may contain paper receipts with ink writing, ink pens and other things that can damage the fabric, and turning inside out will protect the front side of the product from losing dye.
The third rule is that if it concerns lacy black panties/bras or underwear without decorations, but also black, they should still be hand washed.
The principles are the same as in machine washing: make the water no warmer than 40 degrees, add liquid gel for black items to the water instead of powder, do not rub or wring the fabric too much when rinsing and wringing. It is also advisable to do the same with other items that are black and made of silk, wool and other delicate materials.
Rule number four - not only washing, but also drying can affect the color of black things. Hanging black clothes outside in the bright sun is detrimental to the color, putting a dryer for black blouses, jeans and thick tights near a window or radiator is also detrimental. Where then to dry black clothes after washing? In the bathroom, simply in a room where it is not sunny and not hot, or in the attic.
The fifth rule - even new, just bought black things should be washed by hand or in a washing machine, and when rinsing them, add a little table vinegar to the water. Why is it needed?
To preserve the pigment on the fabric and prevent it from washing out during subsequent washings. This is the easiest and cheapest way to extend the life of black clothes.
And finally, I would like to tell you about the tricks that are worth resorting to if black things have already faded and noticeably shed or have stains on them. Coffee can be a natural, safe dye that additionally flavors clothes.
Make a strong drink from ground coffee, strain the grounds and put the item you want to restore its color into the liquid. It is enough to soak the clothes in the coffee infusion for a quarter of an hour so that they become darker and acquire a pleasant aroma.
Another trick that helps to remove whitish marks and return the fabric to a black and even color - mix a tablespoon of vinegar and some shavings from laundry soap in a basin filled with warm water, dissolve it all well and hold the black clothes in the prepared solution for about 10 minutes. You will have to rinse the clothes carefully several times after this, but the whitish spots and stains will disappear.
