Did you know that some fabrics are too delicate for the washing machine? Many manufacturers recommend that colored clothes be washed separately in cold water — but not all of us have time or energy to do laundry by hand every week. Fortunately, there is an answer. You can mix your colored and white clothing in the same load of laundry if you follow these simple tips. There are a number of reasons why we tend to separate whites from coloreds when doing laundry. Colored clothing often has dyes that could bleed, ruining your other clothes. Some garments have special finishes or materials that are best cleaned with specialty detergents and additives found in most “colored” detergent formulas. But is it really necessary to keep them separate?
Can I Mix White And Colored Clothes In The Washer?
Yes, you can mix white and colored clothes in the washer. In fact, the best way to wash both white and colored clothes is in the washing machine. The washing machine is the best way to clean clothes because it uses hot water and spinning action that gets deep into fabric fibers to remove dirt and stains.
What Happens When You Mix Both White And Colored Clothes Together?
- It’s a myth that the act of mixing colored and white clothes in the same load will cause the colors to bleed.
- Colored clothing will bleed only if there is an excess of dye, or if the garment is old and faded. In fact, you’ll find that mixing white and colored clothing together can actually help prevent colored clothing from bleeding.
- The majority of your colored clothing is probably made from synthetic fabrics, which do not contain any natural dyes. Instead, synthetic fabrics are colored with pigmented finishes which are less susceptible to bleeding.
- They are also blended with brighteners that help to prevent fading in the wash. For these reasons, synthetic fabrics are often used in white garments.
How To Mix Your Whites And Colors Together?
Use White as a Base
If you’re mixing a light color with a dark color, you can use white as a base. To do this, add a small amount of white to the dark color until the desired hue is reached. For example, if you’re mixing a dark blue with dark green, start out by adding a small amount of white to the green until it’s a lighter shade of green. Now add the blue to the lighter green. You’ll find that the blue mixes with the white to create a darker shade. This is an important thing to note because every color has a corresponding shade. When you use white as a base, the color you’re mixing with will act like its corresponding shade.
Mix With the Shade of the Color
If you’re mixing a light color with a dark color, you can use the shade of the light color. This will make the dark color lighter. To do this, add a small amount of the shade of the light color to the dark color until the desired hue is reached. For example, if you’re mixing a dark red with a light blue, start out by adding a small amount of the shade of the blue to the red until it’s a lighter shade of red. Now add the blue to the lighter red. You’ll find that the blue mixes with the red to create a darker shade. Keep in mind that this technique works best when you’re mixing two secondary colors. You can also use this technique when you’re mixing a primary color with a secondary color.
Use a Tint or Shading of the Color
A tint is the amount of color added to white and shading is the amount of color added to black. When you’re mixing a light color with a dark color and want the light color to be the dominant color, use a tint of the light color or shading of the light color. For example, if you’re mixing a dark purple with light green, start out by adding a tint of light green to the dark purple until the desired hue is reached. Now add a tint of light green to the dark purple. You’ll find that light green is the dominant color. Using a tint or shading of color is a good way to add subtle color to a project without overdoing it. Keep in mind that this technique works best when you’re mixing a primary color with a secondary color.
Mix With the Colour’s Corresponding Primary Colours
If you’re mixing a light color with a dark color and want the light color to be the dominant color, use the primary colors of the light color. For example, if you’re mixing a dark green with light orange, start out by adding the primary colors of the light orange to the dark green until the desired hue is reached. Now add the primary colors of light orange to the dark green. You’ll find that light orange is the dominant color. This technique works best when you’re mixing primary colors with secondary colors. You can also use this technique when you’re mixing a secondary color with a primary color.
Mix with a Darker Shade of the Colour
If you’re mixing a light color with a dark color and want the dark color to be the dominant color, use a darker shade of the dark color. For example, if you’re mixing a dark blue with a light red, start out by adding a darker shade of the dark blue to the light red until the desired hue is reached. Now add a darker shade of dark blue to the light red. You’ll find that dark blue is the dominant color. This technique works best when you’re mixing a primary color with a secondary color.
What Is The Difference Between White And Colored Laundry?
- There’s a difference between white and colored laundry. White laundry is cleaned at a low temperature, usually below 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Colored laundry is cleaned at a high temperature to prevent fading. White laundry is bleached to make it white again after it’s been stained by dirt or food.
- Colored laundry is not bleached to prevent it from losing its color and fading. White laundry is blended with colored laundry and is treated with fabric softener to make it soft like your cotton shirts.
- Colored laundry is not blended with white laundry and does not have fabric softener added.
Tips For Washing Mix-Able Clothing
Now that you know the difference between colored and white laundry and know how to prevent colored garments from bleeding, it’s time to put your knowledge into practice. Here are four tips for washing mix-able items.
- Always use the right amount of detergent: Using the right amount of detergent is critical for getting your garments clean, without causing damage. Using too little detergent can cause fabrics to become dingy and stains to remain. Using too much detergent can leave a residue that attracts soil and can cause fabric damage. – Use the right water temperature: Colored fabrics are more likely to stain than white ones, so they need to be washed at a lower water temperature. Always follow the garment label’s care instructions to determine the water temperature.
- Sort your clothes by type: When you sort your clothes by type, you’re less likely to end up with a load of mixed fabrics that can cause problems. For example, a load of towels, underwear, and socks will cause problems in a variety of ways, while a load of towels, bras, and socks will not.
- Use the right amount of detergent: Using the right amount of detergent is critical for getting your garments clean, without causing damage. Using too little detergent can cause fabrics to become dingy and stains to remain. Using too much detergent can leave a residue that attracts soil and can cause fabric damage.
How To Prevent Discoloration?
- While there is no real way to prevent discoloration completely, there are a few things you can do to minimize the likelihood of it happening. Start by sorting your clothes into two piles: dark colors and light colors.
- Then, wash your dark clothes and whites in one load, and your light-colored garments in another. This will help reduce the risk of colors bleeding onto each other.
- Another trick is to use color catcher sheets in the washing machine. These sheets are designed to reduce the risk of colored dyes bleeding onto other garments.
- You can also try adding a cup of white vinegar to the wash water. This can help reduce fading and discoloration.
Conclusion
White and colored laundry have different care instructions. White laundry is bleached to make it white again after it’s been stained by dirt or food. Colored laundry is not bleached to prevent it from fading. White laundry is blended with colored laundry and is treated with fabric softener to make it soft like your cotton shirts. Colored laundry is not blended with white laundry and does not have fabric softener added. White and colored fabrics are visually appealing but require different care instructions.
