Almost all black clothes eventually fade after repeated washing and drying. As a result, your closet is now full of dull gray shirts and pants. Instead of buying new clothes, it's best to try one of the following techniques to bring back the color of your clothes at home.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Using Paint
Step 1. Determine if your fabric is paintable
Fabric paints work best on natural fabrics like cotton, linen, and silk. Synthetic fabrics such as rayon and nylon can also be painted. However, there are some fabrics that cannot be painted at all, namely polyester and spandex.
- It is highly recommended not to paint fabrics labeled “dry clean only” (dry clean only).
- Different fabrics have different ways of absorbing paint so the final result will look different. If you are in doubt, test it in small pieces first.
Step 2. Prepare your workplace
Cover your entire workplace with plastic or newspaper before starting. Make sure you have a sponge and paper towel within reach, in case one spills. Use a plastic bucket, stainless steel bucket, or stainless steel sink to collect the paint water.
- Do not use a bathtub made of porcelain or fiberglass, as these will stain.
- You will need to wear rubber gloves during the painting and rinsing session.
Step 3. Fill a bucket or sink with very hot water
The hotter the water, the deeper the color will be. The maximum temperature you can use is 60°Celsius and it will produce a very deep black color. Make sure that the hot water provided is sufficient to cover the entire garment.
If you want the deepest dark color and the tap water is not hot enough, use a kettle, stove, or microwave to heat the water
Step 4. Dissolve the paint powder in a separate container with hot water
Make sure the paint is completely dissolved and use a chopstick or other object that can be soiled to mix the paint with the water. If you are using liquid paint, shake it well before placing it in the container.
Check the fabric paint package to make sure you're using enough amount to paint the clothes you want. The amount of paint needed varies depending on the product, so follow the directions for use on the package or measure accordingly
Step 5. Pour the paint solution into a bucket/sink of hot water
Make sure the solution mixes evenly with the hot water. There should be enough water in the bucket/sink so that the clothes can move freely when stirred in it. This technique ensures that the paint is evenly distributed on the clothes.
- Add a tablespoon of laundry detergent to the paint water. The detergent will help the paint absorb. Make sure you stir the detergent into the paint water until it dissolves evenly
- If you're painting cotton, rayon, hemp, or linen, add a tablespoon of salt to the water to increase the intensity of the color.
- If you're painting nylon, silk, and wool, add a cup of white vinegar to the water to increase the intensity of the color.
Step 6. Soak your fabric in the paint water
The longer the fabric is soaked in the paint water, the darker the result will be. The cloth can be left to soak for up to 1 hour. You will need to keep stirring and moving the fabric while it is submerged in the paint.
- Try to keep the water temperature as consistent as possible. So, have a stove, microwave, or kettle nearby to heat the water that will be used to bring the paint water back to temperature.
- Another option is to use a stainless steel pan for the water and paint while heating the pan on the stove to keep the temperature consistent.
- If you soak your clothes in hot, clear water for a few minutes before placing them in the paint, the clothes will be smoother and easier to absorb the paint.
Step 7. Remove the clothes from the dyed water and rinse them first with warm water
Warm water removes paint from fabric surfaces more efficiently. After that, rinse again with cold water. Continue rinsing until the rinse water is clear.
- When removed from the water, the clothes will be wet and appear darker than the final result.
- Turn your clothes over and put them in the washing machine. Do not mix with other clothes and wash in warm water and a mild detergent. Choose a gentle cycle.
Step 8. Dry or dry the clothes in the washing machine
You can use either method, but it's best to hang clothes in the sun to preserve the black color. Once dry, your clothes are ready to wear.
- For the first three washes, do not mix freshly painted clothes with other clothes and wash in cold water, a mild non-bleach detergent and the gentle cycle.
- After that, you can mix the painted clothes with other clothes of the same color. However, you should still wash your clothes in cold water and a mild detergent.
Method 2 of 3: Using Coffee
Step 1. Put your clothes in the washing machine
If you are going to darken some clothes, make sure they are the same color. Start the laundry on a normal cycle using cold water.
- This method is most effective on cotton fabrics, such as faded black T-shirts. This method is not ideal for other types of fabric.
- If you want to restore the color of the garment to a very jet black, coffee is not as good as black fabric paint. Coffee will produce a more natural black color.
Step 2. Brew a pot of very strong black coffee
The stronger the coffee, the darker the result will be. You will need 2 cups of coffee, so use a full-sized coffee brewer, and not per cup or small.
- You can also use 2 cups of black tea instead of coffee for similar results, if you prefer.
- Any coffee can be used, as long as it's fresh and black. You can use instant coffee because it doesn't have to be made from a coffee maker.
Step 3. Put 2 cups of freshly brewed coffee in the washing machine when the rinse cycle is about to start
Close the door of your washing machine and let your brewed coffee do its work. Wait for the cycle to complete as usual.
- If you've used commercial fabric paints before, you'll notice that this method smells better now and then.
- This method is also non-toxic, and you don't have to worry about getting your sink or buckets dirty.
Step 4. Hang the clothes to dry
The color of the clothes will fade if they are machine dried, so make it a habit to dry your black clothes to maintain the color. After drying, the clothes are ready to wear.
Method 3 of 3: Prevent Clothes Color from Fading
Step 1. Wash dark colored clothes only when necessary
Each wash cycle will fade the color of the clothes, so it is better if the clothes are not washed too often. This is especially true for denim because the color is very easy to fade.
- So that you don't wash dark clothes too often, take them off and hang them in the sun instead of washing them. Mount it on a hanger and hang it somewhere for a day before putting it back in the closet.
- After wearing and drying for 2-3 times, please wash the clothes.
Step 2. Sort your clothes by color and weight before washing
Always wash dark colored clothes together so that the color does not seep and stain bright colored clothes when washed. In addition, sort clothes by type of material and weight.
If you wash light clothes with heavy fabrics, thin fabrics can be damaged and heavy fabrics will not be as clean as possible
Step 3. Wash thin clothes manually
The washing machine cycle can be too strong for easily damaged clothes. Wash these clothes manually in cold water to preserve color and prevent damage.
- If you really don't want to do your laundry manually, it's a good idea to have a small hemp bag handy. Put light clothes in this bag before putting them in the washing machine. Thus, the damage to your thin clothes can be minimized
- Dry clean clothes if you're not sure how to wash them.
Step 4. Turn the black clothes over before washing
This protects the black clothes from the rough movement of your washing machine. Washing machine spins scrape the black threads of clothes so that they break and the color fades.
Step 5. Wash your clothes in cold water using a gentle cycle
Warm and hot water can cause the color of the clothes to fade and using cycles other than gentle will also fade black clothes. This cycle is safer on clothes and thin clothes will be protected and durable.
If your washing machine has a dirt setting, always use a light setting (unless your clothes are very dirty). Light dirt settings will be much softer on dark colors than other settings
Step 6. Use a special detergent for black or bright colors
Never use laundry detergent that contains bleach or its substitutes. Some manufacturers make detergents that are specially formulated to maintain dark colors. Use this product if you find one.
Use the minimum amount of detergent possible to clean clothes. Using too much detergent will fade the color of the clothes
Step 7. Hang the clothes to dry
Do not dry your clothes in a tumble dryer. Take the clothes out of the washing machine, shake them briefly, and hang them on a rope or clothesline to dry.
