You probably already know to separate your white laundry from your coloured as this prevents damage from colour bleeding. While we know how to avoid colour damage, we rarely think about colour preserving. Whether you want to brighten your coloured clothing or whiten your whites, there are plenty of ways to help stop your garments from fading and to keep them looking brand spanking new!
We found the tips below the most effective on top of washing less frequently and turning coloured clothing inside out when washing. And yes, bleach is one of the most effective products, but let’s try to steer clear of chemicals first.
Baking Soda
Sodium bicarbonate is a natural cleanser that will even keep your washing machine clean! Simply add ½ cup of baking soda at the start of your cycle & you’ll see how effective it really is! It’s also used to whiten teeth so you can be sure it will whiten & brighten your clothing.
White Vinegar
Pouring in ¼ cup to your rinse cycle will help soften, brighten, deodorise, and eliminate soap residue on your laundry. Vinegar also has antibacterial properties. Be careful not to mix vinegar with bleach as this is hazardous.
Lemon Juice
The citric acid in lemon juice helps to get rid of stains and brighten your load. You do need a bit more than the other natural products, 1 cup of lemon juice should do the trick.
Borax
Sodium borate, also known as Borax, is a natural mineral that breaks down the water minerals to help the detergent work more effectively. It can be used as an all purpose cleaner so it’s worth having handy at home. ½ cup of borax is all that is needed to be added to your machine at the start of your wash.