How to Wash Red Clothes

You can easily wash your red clothing and prevent the colors from bleeding. To do this, wash your new red clothing by itself for the first few washes. Then, wash your garments with similar colors after the risk of color bleeding is gone. You can easily use your washing machine or wash by hand. For best results, use cold water and air-dry your red clothing. With a little maintenance, your red clothing can look great for years to come.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Following Best Practices

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Brand new red clothing is usually highly saturated in dye or pigment, and this can easily stain your other clothing items. To avoid bleeding or staining, clean your red garments with other red items for the first few washes.
2
Test the color of your clothing to see if it will bleed in the wash. Do this whenever you want to test the color saturation of your red clothing. Fill up a spray bottle with water, and spray a 2–4 in (5.1–10.2 cm) spot on a piece of red clothing. Blot the wet spot with a paper towel, and inspect the paper towel to see if any dye transferred.
- If your paper towel is red, your clothing may bleed. To release the additional color, soak your clothing in a bowl of cold water for about 30 minutes. This should get rid of the remaining pigment. Then, wash the clothing with other red garments.
- If there is no red on the paper towel, it is safe to wash with other colors like orange, pink, and purple.
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3
Add 1 tbsp (14.8 g) of salt when washing your clothes to preserve the color. If you want to keep your red clothing bold and beautiful, use a bit of salt in your wash. Use a measuring spoon to portion about 1 tbsp (14.8 g) of salt, and pour it in to your washing machine or tub of water.^{[1]XResearch source}
- The chloride in the salt prevents fading.
4
Use cold water when washing red clothing prevent the color from bleeding. For best results, always wash your colored clothing in cold water.^{[2]XExpert SourceSafir Ali
Professional Dry CleanerExpert Interview. 15 September 2020.} Cold water reduces dye run-off, so your clothing will not fade as quickly and the pigment is less likely to bleed.^{[3]XResearch source}
- If you use warm or hot water, your clothing may appear dull over time.
5
Hang your clothing to dry to prevent any fading. After you wash your red clothing, wring out each item with your hands and lay them on a clean towel. Blot your clothing with the towel to get rid of extra moisture. Then, drape your clothing over a hanger, clothing rack, or clothesline to air-dry.^{[4]XExpert SourceSafir Ali
Professional Dry CleanerExpert Interview. 15 September 2020.} Let the garment dry for 1-3 hours. Air-drying your clothes preserves their color.^{[5]XResearch source}
- If you put your red clothing in the dryer, the color may fade over time.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using the Washing Machine

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If you fill the machine mostly full, select a full load size. If the machine is halfway full, indicate a medium load. If you are only washing a few garments, use the small load setting.^{[6]XResearch source}
2
Pour all-purpose detergent into the machine's detergent slot. Most machines have a detergent slot on the left-hand side.^{[7]XResearch source}
- If you have a small load of laundry, fill up the cap about halfway full.
- If washing a large load, use a full cap of detergent.
3
Use the lowest temperature setting to preserve the color. Turn your wash temperature to the “cold” setting before you start the load.^{[8]XExpert SourceSafir Ali
Professional Dry CleanerExpert Interview. 15 September 2020.}^{[9]XResearch source}
- If you use a warm or hot wash setting, the dye on your clothing may bleed to your other garments, and the clothing may fade over time.
4
Press the “Start” button to start the wash cycle. After you add your detergent, you are all set to wash your clothing. The wash cycle takes about 45-60 minutes, depending on your machine.
- When the wash cycle is complete, remove your clothing right away.This way, they smell clean and fresh rather than soggy and mildewy.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Washing Your Clothes by Hand

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1
Fill up a bathtub or sink with water to hand wash your clothes. Do this if you have delicate or fragile clothing. Once your tub or sink is about halfway full, you can turn off the water and place your garments inside.^{[10]XResearch source}
- You can easily wash your garments by hand, though it may take a bit more effort than using the machine.
2
Dump all-purpose detergent into the bathtub or sink. Fill up the cap of your detergent, and dump it into the water. Then, use your hands or a large spoon to mix it up.^{[11]XResearch source}
- Use half a cap of detergent if you have a small load.
- Use a full cap of detergent if washing a large load.
3
Soak and swish your clothing for 10-15 minutes. As your clothing soaks, move around each item in the soapy water to clean off dirt and debris. Continue swishing each item through the water until they are clean.^{[12]XResearch source}
- If you scrub or twist the clothing, they can stretch out or get damaged.
4
Rinse your clothing in cool water to remove dirt, debris, and soap. Once you're finished soaking your clothing, pull each item out of the tub or sink and hold it underneath of cool running water. Rinse your garments thoroughly to get rid of dirt and soap residue.Then, gently wring out the excess water.^{[13]XResearch source}
- When the water runs without any bubbles in it, your clothing is free of soap.