The washing machine setting that will ensure your black clothes STAY black & the kitchen ingredient you can use to help
WE’VE all done it – washed a load of black clothes, only to take them out the machine and find they’re faded.
However, according to a laundry whizz, the temperature we’re washing the clothes on has a massive impact on how much they fade.
Madame Sweat – aka Mary Futher – shared a video on her TikTok page in which she shared her top tips for keeping black clothes chic and fade-free.
“Water temperature is key,” she said.
“So wash them in cold water and put the washing machine on speed wash.”
You can also use salt or white vinegar to help set the dye in the clothes.
Simply sprinkle half a cup of table salt all over your black clothes before you wash them.
Or, if you’re using white vinegar, add a quarter of a cup of the liquid into the drum alongside your washing.
Madame Sweat’s other top tip is never to put black clothes in the tumble dryer.
“You’ve got to get a drying rack,” she said.
“And don’t put it outside.
“Leave it in your washroom or laundry room to dry.”
People were quick to comment on the TikTok video, with one writing: “Thank you so much for the tip!”
“Thank You, Mrs. excellent advice. U SLAY!!!” another praised.
“WHy am I just seeing this now?” a third sighed.
“Yup!! My black clothes look new always,” someone else said.
“Love the vinegar tip, I’ve always used vinegar in whites but now my all black too,” another wrote.
“Thank you!”
However, others disagreed, and shared their own tips for stop black clothes from fading in the wash.
“Nope, cold water green Palmolive dish soap dry on delicate or line dry,” one wrote.
How can you get your washing dry when it's raining outside?
DEALING with the British weather isn't ideal when it comes to trying to get clothes dry outside. But fear not, if it's raining then there are a few hacks you can try to get your laundry dry inside the house.
Curtain poles
If you put your clothes on hangers to dry, you can then hang the clothes from a curtain pole. This is an effective hack, but it’s important to make sure you’ve got a window open too, to promote ventilation and avoid a build up of mould.
Airers
There are a whole host of airers on the market, but the popularity of heated airers have risen dramatically in recent months. Many people swear by using a heated airer to get clothes dry quickly and evenly, without racking up loads on the energy bill by using a tumble dryer.
Dehumidifiers
While the main point of a dehumidifier is, as the name suggests, to reduce humidity in the room, they also work a treat to get clothes dry. In fact, many of the little machines have a laundry setting on them. And once again, using a dehumidifier won’t break the bank either, as they’re very energy efficient.
Radiator cocoon
If you’ve got your heating on, then creating a cocoon with a fitted sheet and your radiator can be a game changer. Simply place one end of the fitted sheet over the radiator, and place the other end so it’s entirely engulfing the airer. This will dry your clothes quicker, by keeping the hot air inside the cocoon, rather than letting it all escape.
Spin it
The majority of washing machine cycles end with a spin, but you can always give your laundry an extra spin before taking it out, to remove as much moisture as possible before you hang it up. It’s a hack that loads of people swear by when it comes to drying clothes inside.
“Never fade..”
“Turning inside out helps as well,” another said.
“I’ve always used Woolite with cold water,” a third commented.
“It’s gentle, cleansing and sets and keeps colours perfectly.”
“Don’t put vinegar in your machine. It will ruin it,” someone else insisted.
“Will it smell though?” another wondered.