Preventing new colors from running
By suspenseful
@suspenseful (40193)
Canada
February 26, 2009 12:42pm CST
I was told that to prevent colors from running especially in new clothes, I should use cold water and add some salt to the water I do not know if this works, and sometimes I feel I have to empty the whole box of salt into the water. Now I wonder if I should keep this procedure, adding salt to the cold water, throughout the whole history of the garment or just the first one or two times?
In other words, how long do I keep this up or do you use another method?
At least this is a better use for salt other then putting it on your food.
7 people like this
15 responses
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
27 Feb 09
Thanks for posting this discussion because I learned something I didn't know before about clothes. I knew when dying clothes to add salt to set the dye but I didn't know we should do it with new clothes. So when I went in search of a answer I found a site that was helpful for me and maybe it will be helpful for you as well..
http://www.ehow.com/how_4589931_set-colors-new-clothes.html
Good luck and hope you can use the link.
2 people like this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
20 Mar 09
Well Hope it works out well for you and I am going to be doing this so that clothes will look newer longer. Thanks for the best response and have a great day..
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
20 Mar 09
That sounds like a good idea. I guess I did not use enough salt in the water.
1 person likes this
@Polly1 (12645)
• United States
26 Feb 09
I think most colors are color fast now. You should still be careful with some reds and other bright colors. I have heard that using cold water and the salt method works, I have also heard that adding vinagar to the cold water helps to set the color. I don't think you have to keep doing it to stop the colors from running. I think you can also buy something in the laundry asile at the store.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
28 Feb 09
This was a burgundy top. I have a red and white patterned dress and it run. I think it was meant to be dry cleaned but they forgot to put the label on and when I washed it in cold water, it ran. And I did add some salt to the water then as well.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
1 Mar 09
I use a t-shirt over it, a rather fancy scooped neck one. I am rather full busted, and I bought it because I loved the color.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
20 Mar 09
I hand wash it, added salt, and I also added vinegar and it still runs. In a little while it will be mauve.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
8 Mar 09
I did not know if I could put this in the dryer. I have been washing it by hand. I figured it would be safer that way. Besides I do not have that many burgundy winter blouses. I do have a summer one.
@palonghorn (5479)
• United States
27 Feb 09
Go to the aisle where the laundry products are sold. There is a sheet, not sure of the name, that you throw in with it, it acts like a color 'magnet'. It pics up all the color and doesn't allow it onto other clothes in that load. My mom uses them and they really work. As for me, I normally either wash it alone the first couple of times or throw it in with like colors.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
20 Mar 09
Okay I can see if it is available, but I have to be careful because I am allergic to many of the chemicals used in fabric softeners and washing machine products.
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
26 Feb 09
You only have to do this once. The cold water and salt "set" the colors so that they don't run. I was surprised that this worked for me!
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
10 Mar 09
I tried it with my blouse, but the colors still run and this is the third I washed it with cold water and salt. Maybe I should buy some Zero cold water wash and see if that works.
@albert2412 (1782)
• United States
27 Feb 09
I had not heard about using salt to prevent colors from running on new cloths.
@eshaan (6188)
• India
16 Mar 09
yes, i have heard the same thing, but i think u have to do it only 2-3 times till the colors are fixed, and this problem is mostly with the dyed clothes, otherwise u can save your salt. And after washing thrice try putting them only in water and if u see the color vanishing then its up to your patience that till how many washes u can use salt for washing....
1 person likes this
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
27 Feb 09
Hello dear friend. We have also the saying that salt helps new colors from running, but I am not so sure of the truth of the saying because I once did so when I hand washed my son's new jeans. Still I could see the fade of the color in the water. Anyway this is a common saying, I guess. Take care, friend.
1 person likes this
@Adoniah (7513)
• United States
27 Feb 09
When you do the salt treatment, do not do it in the washer. Do it in a plastic pan and let the garment soak in the salt water all day. Then do multiple rinsings until the water runs clear.
Years ago when jeans always ran color when new, we used to wear them surfing the first time we wore them to set the color. It worked!
Shalom~Adoniah
1 person likes this
@jands1 (835)
• United States
26 Feb 09
Adding salt to water is typical when dying fabrics. It is added to the water AND the dye. I have never heard of adding salt to my new clothing. Might have to try that.
Typically I simply wash new clothing with matched older clothing so they infuse each other with the dyes and stay fresh looking.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
27 Feb 09
I always add salt if the clothes are dark and I wash them as soon as I buy them because they have the shop soil still on them. I washed this blouse I got and it was amazing how much dirt as well as the extra color came on. It must have been hanging at WAlmart for some time.
@suzzy3 (8342)
•
27 Feb 09
Wash it in cold water with washing detergent not salt ,it might stain your clothes like the sea does,white stains,i normally wash a few times by hand when the water stops colouring up you should be alright,although I carry on washing in warm water by hand to keep it nice.Clothes are precious in my house so I am very careful.
1 person likes this
@pavan2345678npk (20)
• India
27 Feb 09
hi, adding salt to the cold water is one of the best method. if we add the salt content very much we can prevent the new colors from running. by using some additional powders with latest technology that are available in the market we can prevent colors from running. do not keep the clothes in cold water for long time.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157481)
• United States
9 Apr 09
I think you only do it the first time. Salt is a fixative and is used as such in natural dying processes.
