Faded clothes: 5 solutions to recover their original color

There are clothes that lose color in the first wash and stain the rest of the clothes. The most common colors that cause these disasters are red, black and blue, but other colors are not saved and can also end up affecting the rest of the clothes.

But when this happens it is not the end of faded clothing. There are several effective solutions to restore the original color of clothing, so there is no despair and thinking that all is lost.

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Faded clothes: 5 solutions to recover their original color

Depending on the type of fabric, color and time that a garment has been fading, it is possible that the original color will not be 100% recovered. However, these tricks and solutions are worth a try and give faded clothing a second chance.

Most solutions to restore the original color of clothing do not need to be purchased. They are based on elements and ingredients that you have at home and that are commonly used. So it is not complicated to try and hope it works.

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1. Water with salt

A solution to fix faded clothes is to use salt water. This trick, in addition to water and salt, needs ice. It is a very easy way to restore the color of clothing, especially if it is done immediately after the garment has faded. Sometimes it happens that when you take the clothes out of the washing machine, the color has remained in the water. Something has happened and now the clothes look a different color from the original.

In this situation, if you act immediately, it is very likely that the color can be recovered and that the clothes can look like new. What you have to do is put water in a bucket along with a lot of salt and ice. The garment must be completely covered and must be left submerged for a few minutes. After about 10 minutes it can be removed and checked. If it has not been enough, you have to do it again.

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2. Potatoes

With the help of potatoes, the original color of some garments can be recovered. It is important to say that this trick does not work for clothes made from synthetic fabrics. This is because clothing is required to be submerged in boiling water, and clothing made from synthetic textiles cannot withstand hot water for long. First you have to check the specifications on the label to avoid surprises.

To begin with, what you have to do is put water in a saucepan large enough to submerge the faded garment and bring it to a boil. The clothes have to be inside along with several potatoes. These should not be peeled, but should be washed before submerging. After the water begins to boil it is surprising to see how the garment begins to regain its color.

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3. Eggshells

One solution for faded clothing is to use eggshells. Although this solution may sound strange in appearance, it turns out to be one of the most efficient for removing stains or helping to regain its color. This is one of those tricks that is most effective if done immediately after the garment comes out of the washing machine faded. However, if this is not possible in any way it is worth a try.

Along with all the egg shells you have, bring water to boil. When this mixture has been boiling for a while you can turn off the fire. Then it is time to put the garment and submerge it. It does not need to be in the water for a long time, the effect is usually immediate and you can see how the color begins to match. Be careful with synthetic textiles as they could be damaged by hot water.

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4. Vinegar

Vinegar has multiple uses in the home and one of them is to restore the color of clothes. This solution is very simple if you need to submerge a lot of clothes. It is common for a single item to fade the rest of the washing machine load. If this happens, you have to remove the clothes that caused the disaster and submerge the rest in this mixture of salt, vinegar and water. It can be done in several buckets or in a single large enough tub.

You need to fill with enough water to submerge the full load of laundry or items to be washed. Several tablespoons of salt and half a glass of white vinegar are added. Then it is stirred just a little and the clothes are dipped. It does not take much time, little by little you will be able to see how the clothes recover their original color and the stains are left behind.

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5. Laurel and baking soda

A powerful duo for faded clothing is laurel and baking soda. If there is bay leaf and bicarbonate at home, this solution can be done without any problem. The amounts depend on the amount of faded clothing. The way to do it is by preparing a huge infusion of laurel where the garments are submerged. However, for this trick you must wait until the water is cold.

In boiling water you have to add the bay leaf and a few teaspoons of bicarbonate. Leave for about 5 minutes and remove from heat. Once this infusion is cold, it is strained to eliminate the laurel remains and then if the clothes are submerged. This solution can be used on all types of clothing, even those made of synthetic textiles because it does not lose effectiveness if it is done with cold water.

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Bibliographic references

• Fernández, M.L (2013). Garment and home clothing repair operations. IC Editorial.

• Marchal, R.G.E., Ropero, G.R. and Hidalgo, M.A. (2013). Laundry in accommodation. MAD Editorial.

• Maxwell, L. (2003). Save womens lives: history of washing machines. Eaton, CO: Oldewash.