Is your wardrobe overflowing with black clothes? Rest assured, this is the case in many wardrobes! This shade has a reputation for going with everything and flattering all silhouettes. However, nothing is less glamorous than black that turns gray or brown over time and loses all its “shine”. You can of course opt for a dye to put in the washing machine to intensify the black. However, natural products do just as well while being more economical! Discover our grandmother’s tips and tricks for reviving the dark with kitchen ingredients or those taken from nature.
At the end of the article, we also give you the best washing and drying tips and techniques to avoid dull black clothes.
Natural ingredients to revive black
Besides black pepper (1 teaspoon in the washing machine drum), there are many ingredients that can intensify the black.
Coffee to restore shine to black
In addition to revive the black colorthe coffee also helps to fix it. It can be used in several ways. On the one hand, you can soak your clothes in very strong cold coffee before washing. Otherwise, it is also possible to pour a cup of coffee into the washing machine, preferably into the softener compartment. Then continue rinsing to achieve a uniform color. Use only on black clothing!
Spinach
Keep the spinach cooking water carefully! It is indeed very effective for fix the color of black clothes. Let your dark clothes soak in this preparation, then rinse with clean water.
Tea
This conservative agent has no equal for preserve dark colors of clothing. How ? Dip each black item of clothing in lukewarm tea. Otherwise, you can directly add two mustard glasses into the rinsing compartment of the machine.
Ivy or walnut to revive the black
In a pot filled with water, bring one or two handfuls of ivy or walnut leaves to the boil. Then let cool off the heat until the decoction becomes lukewarm. All you have to do is soak your clothes in it to achieve a radiant black shade.
Beer rinse to revive the dark
This traditional technique involves rinsing black clothing with beer. We then rinse thoroughly to avoid alcohol odors! Even easier, you can pour a glass of beer into the softener tank when rinsing. That will make your black clothes look like new.
Panama wood or Indian ink to revive a very tarnished black
Panama wood bark is commonly used to treat dark jeans. It would therefore be a shame to do without it for wake up and protect the color of clothes. Simply make a decoction with 100 g of bark per liter of water. Then all you have to do is soak! For a more tinted effect, India ink (or a permanent black ink) is another good option. Simply dilute the ink in hot water and immerse the garment in it. Using gloves, make sure to stir regularly. This allows to evenly dye the fabric. Then, drain the garment outside without wringing it. For either technique, remember to wash the garment apart or just with black clothes to limit the risk of discoloration of light laundry.
Expert advice for caring for black clothes
Some tips before washing:
Good sorting avoids tarnishing the rest of the laundry, but also making the black lose its intensity. Also think about turn black clothes inside out to protect the color. This helps limit discoloration of the exterior surface. Indeed, repeated rubbing can wear away the color more quickly. And if it is a new item of clothing, consider fix black color with a sink or a basin of cold water with a cup of white vinegar and another of coarse salt.
While washing in the washing machine:
Ideally, you should opt for a short program and do not exceed 30, or even 40°C maximum. Hot water tends to accelerate the fading of dark-colored clothing. Moreover, the spin must also be set to minimum to avoid wear of the black. In terms of products, there is of course special detergent for black and dark colors. However, respect the dosages carefully to avoid stains on clothes. When it comes to homemade recipes, ivy laundry detergent wins hands down! However, the little chestnut detergent is also very effective. Otherwise, any liquid detergent without bleaching agent will do the trick. (Powdered detergent is often more whitening than liquid.) Finally, limit fabric softener in favor of a small glass of white alcoholic vinegar when rinsing.
Good to know: Very gentle, hand washing black clothes is also a good option.
After washing:
Drying in the sun or drying in a tumble dryer is not recommended. Nothing tires the dark more than the sun’s rays and the heat ! In addition, black clothes like dark-colored linen do not like ironing, which tends to destroy the pigments that color the fabric over time. If you have no choice, iron on the inside of the fabric or set the iron to a low temperature.