Washing Light Colored Clothes: Tips and Techniques
Having white clothes in your wardrobe means comfort, classic style and a bright appearance, but there is a darker side to wearing light colored clothing: It can quickly get stained and discolored.
However, with a few tips and techniques, you can keep your white clothes looking as good as new.
1. Pre-treat Spots and Stains
To make sure the stain is completely removed, pre-treating is the best way to go. This simply means taking the time to treat the stain before it goes in the wash. You can use stain remover, liquid detergent, and other products specifically designed to treat tough stains without risking fading or discoloration.
2. Wash Separately
It’s important to wash light-colored and white clothes separately from darker items, as the light-colored pieces are more likely to become dull and gray if washed with darker items.
Furthermore, it’s best to separate items with zippers, buttons and hooks from soft items, since the hard pieces can create damage to materials like knit.
3. Cold Water and No Chlorine Bleach
When washing light-colored clothing, always use cold water. Hot water can fade and dull the fabric, and cause the color to lose its vibrancy.
Moreover, be sure to avoid using chlorine based bleach, as this type of bleach can cause yellowing and discoloration on fabrics.
4. Know What Kind of Detergent to Use
For best results, you should use the following detergents when washing white and light-colored clothing:
- Liquid detergent: Liquid detergent is stronger than powder-based detergent and is also known to remove tougher stains and dirt.
- Gentle/Powder detergent: This is best used when washing light loads and delicate fabrics.
- Color-safe bleach: If you want to make sure whites stay white, go for a non-chlorine, oxygen-based bleach that’s designed for color-safe cleaning.
5. Check Care Labels
Most importantly, before you start washing white and light-colored clothes, familiarize yourself with the care instructions and labels on the garment. These provide specific instructions on how to properly care for the fabric, as it’s made from different fibers and materials.
Additional cleaning tips include air drying clothes in the sun, to help get out stubborn stains, and adding salt or white vinegar to the wash — both of which can help increase the impact of the detergent and lock in the fabric’s color.
With the right strategies and products, you can keep your whites looking bright and beautiful while getting the most out of your wardrobe.