What is your secret for keeping your black clothes, black?
The best way is just a change of habit. Always turn your blacks inside out before washing, and let them air dry.
9 Answers
A few years ago I took on the look of dark jeans and black shirts, both of which are bothersome to keep that way. I've found that the new Tide Total Care helps tremendously along with washing in cold water and drying on delicate or knit cycle. For jeans and jackets turning them inside out should become second nature, one harsh cycle can undo months of meticulous delicate washing.
The 1st time you wash anything black(or dark) put some distilled white vinegar in the load. About a 1/2 cup or so. The vinegar helps set the dye, it even removes deodorant stains, and even cleans the washer! Don't worry about the clothes smelling like vinegar, not gonna happen if you use detergent. Also, never throw them in the dryer. Hang dry whenever possible!
I always wash my black (and even just dark) clothes with Woolite for Darks
And then dry things on "gentle" or "low heat" I've got some clothes that are still black and I've had them since 2004.
Wash on cold, gentle cycle. Use a laundry detergent meant for delicate clothes. Turn the clothes inside out. Normal drying will not lighten your dark clothes. Do not you use dryer sheets.
The best way is just a change of habit. Always turn your blacks inside out before washing, and let them air dry.