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How to Test for Colorfastness
LAUNDRY TIPS
You know that you’re supposed to sort your clothes into lights and darks, but everyone makes mistakes. Sometimes you get lucky; you pull that load of whites out of the washing machine and notice the red sock that somehow got left in the mix, but amazingly, none of your white clothes have streaks or spots. Other times, your luck runs out, kind of like the blue dye in your new sweater bleeding out all over your favorite white jeans. Checking your clothes for colorfastness can help you prevent mistakes and better protect your clothes. Here’s how to do it.
Know Your Dyes
There are two main types of fabric dyes: natural and synthetic. Natural dyes come from natural sources, like minerals, leaves, and berries. Natural dyes were once widely used but became less common when synthetic dyes started becoming more popular. However, these days, natural dyes are often preferred by people interested in using environmentally friendly materials.
Synthetic dyes are made from things like petroleum by-products and other chemicals. There are a variety of types of synthetic dyes; acid dyes, pigment dyes, and sulfur dyes are a few examples. Synthetic dyes are less environmentally friendly, but they do tend to be more resistant to fading than natural dyes.
Know Your Materials
It’s not just the dye that determines whether your clothing is likely to bleed or fade in the wash. It’s also the material. Some materials are simply better than others at holding onto dye. For example, polyester holds dye well, and often won’t bleed or stain in the wash. On the other hand, linen and cotton are not as good at holding onto to dye and will fade faster and be more likely to bleed.
Additionally, some fabrics may perform better under certain conditions. The water temperature and type of detergent you use can make a big difference to whether or not a certain material bleeds in the wash. That’s why it’s always important to check the care tags before you wash an item.
How to Test
Knowing your dyes and materials can help you make educated guesses about how a piece of clothing will perform in the wash. For example, if you want to wash something made of polyester and dyed with synthetic dye, you know that there’s a good chance it probably won’t bleed onto other clothing, especially if you follow the washing instructions for the item. But if you don’t know what material or type of dye was used, or you just want to be absolutely certain of how the item will perform in the wash, you can do a test to find out.
Just submerge an inconspicuous part of the item into a sink filled with lukewarm water – and a little detergent, if you wish – and let the item soak for up to 30 minutes, then check on it. If the water is clear, that’s a good sign! Discolored water means that the item is bleeding. But you’re not done yet. Place the wet part of the item on a clean paper towel and let it sit for a minute, then check the towel to see if any color has transferred onto the paper. If the towel is clean, that means that the dye isn’t likely to transfer to other clothes in the wash.