Everyone has some black items in their wardrobe, and for some, this shade predominates. Obviously, throwing dark clothes in the washing machine with light-colored laundry isn't a good idea, as the whites will take on a muddy, grayish hue. But is it okay to wash black with colored laundry? Let's explore this question.
What colors do black things go with?
In general, it is better to wash dark clothes separately from other laundry. If you follow some recommendations, it is acceptable to combine colored items with black ones. Much depends on the shade of the fabric, so let's look at each color combination.
It is permissible to wash red, burgundy, crimson and black items together if:
neither bright nor dark products are prone to fading;
washing will take place in cool water (the temperature should not exceed 30°C);
the spin function will be disabled;
soaking is not planned.
If a brightly colored or black item is new, avoid a mixed wash cycle. This will make it unclear whether the item is prone to fading. For example, a black blouse washed for the first time could bleed onto a red T-shirt, giving it an unsightly, dirty hue.
For washing, it is advisable to use gels or special capsules - powder does not dissolve well in cold water and gets stuck in the fabric fibers, forming stains on the material.
How compatible are blue and black laundry? You can try a mixed wash if:
The shade of blue is closer to dark. If the color is bluish, it's best to avoid processing such an item together with black;
the clothes are not being washed for the first time;
The products are made from durable fabrics that are not prone to staining.
Green items can also be thrown into the wash with black ones, but only if the fabric doesn't bleed. The darker the material, the less likely it is to damage the items. Brown pants can also be washed with charcoal pants.
When deciding to wash black and color, follow five basic rules:
the water temperature should not exceed 30°C;
avoid soaking items;
turn off the spin function so that colored and black items do not spin in the drum at maximum speed;
do not add detergents containing bleaching agents;
Use washing gels or capsules – powder granules do not completely dissolve in cold water.
Of course, the ideal option is to sort items by shade and wash them separately. If mixing is unavoidable, load as little laundry as possible into the washing machine. When three black items and one colored item are in the machine at the same time, the risk of bleed increases significantly.
At the end of the cycle, you must immediately remove the clothes from the washing machine. Leaving wet black and brightly colored items in the drum for a couple of hours may cause stains on colored laundry. Therefore, you need to unload the washing machine without delay.
How does black “contact” gray and white?
Avoid washing whites and blacks under any circumstances, even if you only rinse them in cold water for 10-15 minutes. The risk of light-colored items becoming stained or dirty is too high.
Dark gray items can be washed with black items. If lighter items bleed slightly, it won't be as noticeable. The washing instructions remain the same:
cool water;
short program (no more than 30-40 min.);
avoiding wringing and soaking;
special detergents for washing fabrics of certain shades.
New black items fade a lot, so it’s best to wash them separately the first 2-3 times.
The more often you rinse black fabric in water, the faster the unstable dye particles will be washed out. If you're sure the item won't fade, feel free to toss it in the wash with gray laundry.
How to make things fade less?
If you plan to regularly wash black and colored items, it's a good idea to perform a fading test. This will determine whether dark items will bleed into lighter, brighter items. To do this, simply use a white cloth. Dampen the white cloth and rub the black item with it. If the fabric turns gray, the item is prone to fading. It's best to avoid washing such items with other colors. You can also take simple steps to fix the pigment.
Add 2-3 tablespoons of salt to 1 liter of water. Soak the black item in the resulting solution for 30-50 minutes.
Dissolve a spoonful of 9% vinegar in a liter of water. Soak the item in the solution for 30-40 minutes.
After this procedure, rinse the item in clean water and retest for colorfastness. The fabric will usually stop bleeding, making it safe to wash with other clothes.
Everyone has some black items in their wardrobe, and for some, this shade predominates. Obviously, throwing dark clothes in the washing machine with light-colored laundry isn't a good idea, as the whites will take on a muddy, grayish hue. But is it okay to wash black with colored laundry? Let's explore this question.
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