https://boda.su/en/posts/id911-keep-clothes-bright-simple-salt-hack-to-prevent-fading
Keep Clothes Bright: Simple Salt Hack to Prevent Fading
How to Stop Clothes from Fading with Ordinary Salt
Keep Clothes Bright: Simple Salt Hack to Prevent Fading
Discover an easy, eco-friendly way to keep your clothes vibrant. Learn how regular salt helps fix fabric dye and prevents colors from washing out.
2025-10-25T10:52:21+03:00
2025-10-25T10:52:21+03:00
2025-10-25T10:52:21+03:00
Why Clothes Lose Their Color
Many people notice that a new T-shirt or shirt fades after the very first wash—and sometimes even stains other garments. This problem is especially common with natural fabrics such as cotton, linen, and viscose. The reason is simple: the dye isn’t properly fixed in the fibers and easily washes out. Fortunately, there’s a tried-and-true solution that can help preserve those bright tones—ordinary table salt.
Salt as a Natural Color Fixative
The trick has been known for ages. Salt crystals act as a natural mordant, tightening the fabric’s structure and helping the dye bond more firmly to the fibers. As a result, colors stay vibrant, and the garment looks new even after several washes.
How to Use Salt Properly
For soaking, dissolve about two cups of coarse salt (around 400–500 grams) in a basin of cold water. Submerge the clothing completely and leave it for 8–10 hours—overnight works best. After soaking, gently wring the garment without rinsing it, then wash as usual. Adding a tablespoon of salt directly into the washing machine drum can further boost the effect.
For Delicate Fabrics
Wool and silk require a gentler approach. Use just one cup of salt and limit soaking to 2–4 hours. This helps protect the delicate fibers while still fixing the color.
How to Check the Result
A simple test can show whether the color is set. Before soaking, pin a white cotton pad or cloth to the garment. If it remains white afterward, the dye is now stable and won’t bleed during washing.
An Added Bonus: Softer Water
Salt doesn’t just preserve color—it also softens hard water. This makes clothes come out less wrinkled, and the fabric retains its density and shape for longer.
When to Repeat the Treatment
For deep shades like black, burgundy, navy, or red, you can repeat the process two or three times. The second and third soaks can be shorter—about 4–6 hours each.
Safe and Eco-Friendly
This method is perfectly safe, even for children’s clothing or those with sensitive skin. Salt is hypoallergenic, unlike chemical fixatives that can cause irritation. Both regular and sea salt (without added fragrance) work equally well. After washing, dry your clothes as usual—no extra steps are needed.
A few spoonfuls of salt can rescue your favorite clothes from fading and extend their lifespan. A simple, affordable household hack proving that sometimes the best care solution is already sitting in your kitchen.
Clothes Fading, Fabric Care, Salt Hack, Natural Dye Fix, Laundry Tips, Eco-Friendly Cleaning, Color Protection, Fabric Maintenance, Washing Tricks
2025
articles
How to Stop Clothes from Fading with Ordinary Salt
Discover an easy, eco-friendly way to keep your clothes vibrant. Learn how regular salt helps fix fabric dye and prevents colors from washing out.
Generated by Dall-e
Why Clothes Lose Their Color
Many people notice that a new T-shirt or shirt fades after the very first wash—and sometimes even stains other garments. This problem is especially common with natural fabrics such as cotton, linen, and viscose. The reason is simple: the dye isn’t properly fixed in the fibers and easily washes out. Fortunately, there’s a tried-and-true solution that can help preserve those bright tones—ordinary table salt.
Salt as a Natural Color Fixative
The trick has been known for ages. Salt crystals act as a natural mordant, tightening the fabric’s structure and helping the dye bond more firmly to the fibers. As a result, colors stay vibrant, and the garment looks new even after several washes.
How to Use Salt Properly
For soaking, dissolve about two cups of coarse salt (around 400–500 grams) in a basin of cold water. Submerge the clothing completely and leave it for 8–10 hours—overnight works best. After soaking, gently wring the garment without rinsing it, then wash as usual. Adding a tablespoon of salt directly into the washing machine drum can further boost the effect.
For Delicate Fabrics
Wool and silk require a gentler approach. Use just one cup of salt and limit soaking to 2–4 hours. This helps protect the delicate fibers while still fixing the color.
How to Check the Result
A simple test can show whether the color is set. Before soaking, pin a white cotton pad or cloth to the garment. If it remains white afterward, the dye is now stable and won’t bleed during washing.
An Added Bonus: Softer Water
Salt doesn’t just preserve color—it also softens hard water. This makes clothes come out less wrinkled, and the fabric retains its density and shape for longer.
When to Repeat the Treatment
For deep shades like black, burgundy, navy, or red, you can repeat the process two or three times. The second and third soaks can be shorter—about 4–6 hours each.
Safe and Eco-Friendly
This method is perfectly safe, even for children’s clothing or those with sensitive skin. Salt is hypoallergenic, unlike chemical fixatives that can cause irritation. Both regular and sea salt (without added fragrance) work equally well. After washing, dry your clothes as usual—no extra steps are needed.
A few spoonfuls of salt can rescue your favorite clothes from fading and extend their lifespan. A simple, affordable household hack proving that sometimes the best care solution is already sitting in your kitchen.
