Faded garments? Try these tips based on natural ingredients to revive their colors

One of the most common household problems revolves around the fact that the colors of the garments we use tends to fade over time. Due to frequent washing or dust on clothes that we may not have worn for a while, we often find ourselves having to struggle with this problem. Items we love and never want to throw away get, at some point, to look old and dull. Yet there are various natural remedies to revive the colors and give the garments a new life. They are home tips, some of which have been passed down to us for generations, which can help us out.

Be careful, though. There are also urban myths, devoid of any validity or efficacy. One of these is the myth concerning the use of salt and its "magical power" to revive colors. In the past, this might have worked, because clothes were dyed with natural substances. But with the dyes used in the modern textile industry, however, salt seems to have no power. Even less useful is coffee which, on the contrary, can actually cause damage.

As for the other tips, take a look below. We reveal some secrets:

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Laurel (Bay leaves):

One of the secrets to "restore" the colors of our garments concerns using laurel - also more commonly known as bay leaves. This herb, used in ancient, grandmother's remedies to cure many ailments, also seems to have color restorative powers too. Boil some water in a pot with some bay leaves in it. After bringing it to a boil, leave the pot on the stove over low heat for 20/30 minutes. The leaves, when cooked, will give the water a pale yellow color, useful for reviving warm colors. Cool the water and pour it into a basin together with the items to be treated. Leave it to soak for a few hours. Then rinse off and wash the garments as normal in the washing machine. Yellow, brown and red garments, above all, will come out brighter.

Vinegar:

Another revitalizing ingredient is vinegar. White or apple vinegar, in particular, can help dissolve detergent deposits between the fibers of the fabrics, giving the garments a more vibrant and brilliant color. Add a glass to the detergent dispenser or directly into the drum. Alternatively, dilute it in a basin of water, and leave the clothes to soak for a few hours in the basin before washing as normal. The colors will thank you and the laundry will come out even softer.

However, do not use this remedy on synthetic or silk garments, as it will not work. And be careful not to mix vinegar with bleach-based products, as they react with each other, giving off toxic fumes.

Video tutorial via HomeArt TV/YouTube

Natural dyes:

Then there is the option of using color dyes extracted from fruits, vegetables and other natural elements that are easy to find. By obtaining natural dyes from many different products, it is possible, in fact, to make our discolored garments absorb them, in a few simple steps. Being natural and easily penetrating into fibers, these dyes will restore color to faded or stained fabrics, giving them a new life.

So let's go with colorful ingredients. You can use:

• strawberries and beets for red items;
• carrots, oranges, turmeric and saffron for yellows and oranges;
• blackberries and blueberries for blues and purples;
• coffee and cocoa for the chestnuts/browns;
• vegetable charcoal and black sesame for blacks (and darks);
• parsley, spinach and mint for the greens.

Before proceeding, soak the clean clothes in lukewarm water to help separate the fibers. In this way the fabrics will absorb the color much more efficiently. As for the ingredients, you first need to boil them in water to extract their dyes. Usually, fruit and vegetables need to take up half of a pot and the pot should be filled to the 3/4 mark. For powders, such as turmeric or coffee, it is standard to use about five tablespoons of powder for every one liter of water used. When the water is the color you want, turn off and allow to cool. Filter and immerse the garments in the colored liquid, stirring with a wooden spoon. Add a glass of vinegar and let the clothes soak for 12/24 hours in the liquid. The results will amaze you!

Give it a try!