How to Colorfast Clothing

Published: Jul 24, 2009
Updated: Nov 20, 2021
2 minute read

Things You'll Need:

Things You Will Need

  • plastic bucket or small plastic trash can
  • vinegar
  • salt
  • cold water
  • Warnings:

    • Always do this up on counter level where NO CHILD or PET can tip in or fall in and drown. Do the colofast where you know it is safe to in your house! If you have a concern, cover the bucket somewhat during the process or use some method that you know is safe in your situation.

    Colorfast your new clothing, towels, rugs so the colors and dyes won't run. You will never again ruin clothing by dyes running. This will help you do laundry right. No more pink underwear and gray socks?

    To colorfast dyed or colored material so the dye won't run, into bucket add: 1/4 cup salt 1 cup vinegar 1-2 gallons cold water

    Place one garment in the solution and swish around gently, dissolving the salt and making sure the entire garment is wet through. This will set the color so the color won't run.

    Let sit, swishing the material around gently by hand whenever you pass by (every few hours so during the day). The colorfast process is quite hands off.

    After about 24 hours, lift the garment out, squeezing gently so that excess solution falls back into the bucket. Rinse the garment, cloth, rug or item you are colorfasting thoroughly until the cold water solution runs clear and is free of dyes. When the water runs clear, you can safely wash the item in your regular laundry.

    Advertisement

    If dyes remain after many (10 or so) rinses under cold running water, repeat the colorfasting process (steps 1-4) before washing it in your regular laundry.

    Sponsored
    Our Pastimes Logo

    A destination for the avid collector and weekend hobbyist alike, Our Pastimes features articles and tips about your favorite cards and games, hobbies and more.

    Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2026 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

    Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.