Washing dark laundry: how to keep black truly black

3 minuten read time

Donkere was wassen: zo blijft zwart echt zwart

Author: Erika Candelario

The best way to wash dark laundry is at a maximum of 30 degrees, inside out and with a mild detergent, without fabric softener. Then air dry your clothes, out of direct sunlight. That prevents fading and keeps black deep black for much longer.

Why dark clothes fade faster

Warm water and friction during washing open up the textile fibres, so colour pigment rinses out more easily. Harsh detergents and the tumble dryer speed up that process even further.

Once you know that, you immediately understand why the tips below work: they are all about less friction, less heat and a milder detergent.

What temperature should you wash dark laundry at?

Wash dark and black clothing at a maximum of 30 degrees, on a short, mild programme such as synthetics or delicates. Warmer water attacks the colour faster, so the lower the temperature, the longer your clothes stay deep black.

Step by step: how to wash your dark and black clothing

  1. Sort separately. Keep dark clothes apart from light laundry.
  2. Turn inside out. That way the inside protects the garment from friction.
  3. Close zips. Prevent rubbing and fluff during the wash.
  4. Use a mild detergent. Dose according to the recommended amount, no more.
  5. Skip the fabric softener. It can leave a film that dulls colours.
  6. Wash at 30 degrees. Choose a short, mild programme.
  7. Spin at a lower speed. Less friction means less colour loss.

Why a mild, liquid or solid detergent is better

Washing powder sometimes leaves white streaks or residue on dark clothing. A liquid or well-dissolving solid detergent does not.

Our laundry strips dissolve completely and leave no powder residue, which makes them ideal for dark laundry.

Making black deep black again

Has your black turned dull? Occasionally wash with a splash of white vinegar in the rinse water. That removes soap residue and brings the colour back to life. Turn the clothes inside out for this too.

Never combine vinegar with bleach, as it can cause a harmful reaction.

Drying and storing without fading

Air dry dark clothing and keep it out of direct sunlight, which bleaches the colour. Avoid the tumble dryer where possible. Store your clothes dry, so the colour stays beautifully deep.

Dry your clothes inside out, which protects the outside from discolouration once more.

Fresh and deep black with POWR

A mild, fully dissolving laundry strip washes your dark laundry clean and colour-friendly, without powder residue. You do not need a separate fabric softener with it either.

The POWR Laundry Strips for dark laundry are based on powerful enzyme formulas, dissolve from 15°C and are suitable for all textile types. The 100% recyclable, FSC-certified packaging is free from microplastics.

Need more laundry tips? Also read how to wash sportswear.

Discover the POWR laundry strips →

FAQ

Was donkere en zwarte kleding op maximaal 30 graden, op een kort en mild programma. Warmer water tast de kleur sneller aan, dus hoe lager de temperatuur, hoe langer je kleding diepzwart blijft.
Binnenstebuiten wassen beschermt de buitenkant van je kleding tegen wrijving in de trommel. Zo blijft de kleur langer intens en voorkom je zichtbare sleet.
Kies een mild, vloeibaar of goed oplossend vast wasmiddel, zoals wasstrips. Waspoeder laat soms witte strepen of resten achter, terwijl een volledig oplossend middel dat niet doet.
Was de kleding met een scheutje witte azijn in het spoelwater om zeepresten te verwijderen en de kleur te verlevendigen. Combineer azijn nooit met bleek, en keer de kleding binnenstebuiten voor extra bescherming.
Ja, wasstrips zijn ideaal voor donkere was. Ze lossen volledig op, laten geen poederresten achter en beschermen de kleur, zonder dat je een aparte wasverzachter nodig hebt.

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