I love to crochet or knit dishcloths with the Sugar N Cream 100% cotton yarn. However, there is a big problem when laundering the dishcloths after using, in that the colors fade and become discolored very quickly. Does anyone know how to preserve the colors when actually laundering the dishcloths? Chlorine bleach is a definite no-no. I've tried soaking in various laundry additives such as Oxy-clean. Help and thanks!
DagoRanch said
02:39 PM Nov 2, 2009
I find that the biggest destructor of clothes, especially the colorfastness are 2 things:
1. heat 2. chlorine bleach
Number2 is a no-brainer, but number 1 doesn't just relate to wash water temperature, but also the dryer as well.
I wouldn't throw those into the dryer AT ALL. Just let them dry naturally.
Make sure that whatever detergent you're using has no bleach at all, not even if they claim it's colorfast. Easier said than done as just about every detergent out there has some kind of bleaching agent. And OxyClean wouldn't qualify as it's still an oxidizer, just a different kind (Hydrogen Peroxide).
If it were me, I'd throw them in with any other delicates I have on a delicate wash cycle, in cold water. I'd then let them line dry.
(P.S. Yes, I'm a married man who does his own laundry... 13 years in Navy actually gave me usable skills!)
Serengeti said
04:01 PM Nov 2, 2009
Thanks Dago Ranch. I have been laundering with hot water, so from now on I will use cold water and line dry as suggested. Will also check detergents for any type of bleach.
1. heat
2. chlorine bleach
Number2 is a no-brainer, but number 1 doesn't just relate to wash water temperature, but also the dryer as well.
I wouldn't throw those into the dryer AT ALL. Just let them dry naturally.
Make sure that whatever detergent you're using has no bleach at all, not even if they claim it's colorfast. Easier said than done as just about every detergent out there has some kind of bleaching agent. And OxyClean wouldn't qualify as it's still an oxidizer, just a different kind (Hydrogen Peroxide).
If it were me, I'd throw them in with any other delicates I have on a delicate wash cycle, in cold water. I'd then let them line dry.
(P.S. Yes, I'm a married man who does his own laundry... 13 years in Navy actually gave me usable skills!)