Cleaning expert's soaking trick helps stop your jeans from fading in the wash

18 July 2023 , 15:22
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This simple hack will ensure your jeans stay darker for longer (stock photo) (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
This simple hack will ensure your jeans stay darker for longer (stock photo) (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

There's nothing more annoying than your favourite dark blue or black jeans fading in the wash. No matter how careful you are, the dye eventually fades and ruins.

The 'off black' faded look just doesn't cut it either, just not giving the same feel as jet black jeans, and although jeans don't need to be washed as much as other clothing, it's recommended they're washed every three to ten wears. However, after three washes you know the colour will start to fade anyway.

This simple hack will make sure your jeans always stay the right colour according to cleaning and laundry expert Sarah Dempsey at Myjobquote.co.uk, the UK’s leading trades matching site.

She has shared how to stop dark jeans from fading in the wash, as well as how to stop the dye from bleeding out and ruining other clothes too. Sarah told The Express her top tips for washing, and she advises: "Turn dark jeans inside out before washing and use a colour-preserving detergent.

"Wash similar dark colours together and keep the wash temperature low, use the cold setting if necessary.

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"Occasionally, soaking dark jeans in white vinegar and salt helps to set the dye in the fabric and slows fading."

In order to give this a go, you'll need to add a little distilled white vinegar and salt to a bowl or bucket full of water. The salt helps to set the dye in the jeans, while the vinegar prevents the colour from bleeding by locking the dye into the fibres.

Sainsbury's Table Salt Bottle costs 65p, Asda Table Salt costs 65p and Cook With M&S Table Salt costs 40p from Ocado.

Salt has other purposes when cleaning too, as it can also be used on other fabrics to brighten colours and remove stains.

White vinegar is a little more expensive to purchase, with prices starting from £3.99 online.

Niamh Kirk

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