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We started by sorting through the Cleaning category in the Yahoo! Directory. Then we went to the front page of Yahoo! and sent "fabric care" into the search box spin cycle. We cleaned up with plenty of tips to keep your brights bright. First, here are a few basic tips for washing clothes. Always follow the care instructions on an item's label. The label will usually tell you what water temperature to use, whether or not bleach is safe for the fabric, how to dry the item, and if it needs to be dry-cleaned. To decode the sometimes-cryptic symbols, check out Label Talk for Consumers. Next, make sure to
sort your laundry so you wash similar items together. Brightly colored clothes should only be washed with other brightly colored clothes. Also, separate heavily soiled items from lightly soiled ones. There may be a few reasons why that bright red shirt is turning a faded pink after a dozen washes. According to the Soap and Detergent Association, unstable dyes used in clothing are to blame for faded colors, particularly bright reds, greens, blues, purples, black, and neon or fluorescent colors. While you can't change how your clothes are made, you can lessen the chance of fading by avoiding very hot water and harsh detergents in your laundry. Try using
your washer's gentlest cycle to keep the clothes from rubbing around too much and wearing out the fibers and their colors. A combination of hard water minerals and powder detergents may also be causing your colored fabrics to fade. These two elements together can create a residue that dulls the colors of your clothes. If your water system uses hard water, mix one gallon of water and one cup of white vinegar in a plastic container. Then soak and rinse your dingy clothes in the mixture. Switch to a liquid laundry detergent or use a water softener to prevent the problem in the future. FabricLink.com offers a few more tips to keep brightly colored clothes
from fading in the wash. Turn your clothes inside out and wash them in smaller loads -- much like washing in the gentle cycle, these steps can reduce the abrasion that fabrics experience in the washer. The heat of the dryer can age and fade clothes, so remove your laundry from the dryer while it's still slightly damp. Because sunlight can damage fabrics over time and cause fading, it's a good idea to protect clothes from the sun if you want to keep them bright.
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