How To Add Salt To Laundry To Prevent The Bleeding Of Colors

Salt is a staple in most kitchens, but it can also be used in the laundry room. If you want to keep your colored clothes from bleeding during the wash, give them a dose of salt. The salt helps to set the color into the fabric. This keeps the color from fading while the garment is being washed. Use salt both before you wash your clothes and in the washer to get the maximum benefit.

Step 1

Fill a bucket or tub with 1 gallon of water. Add 1 cup of table salt. Mix the salt and water so that the salt dissolves completely. Double the recipe if your garment is large or if you're washing more than one item.

Step 2

Submerge the clothing in the saltwater solution before the first wash. Let the clothing soak for a few hours.

Step 3

Take the clothing out of the solution and launder as usual.

Step 4

Add ¼ cup salt to the wash cycle for added protection. Do this not only during the first washing, but each washing thereafter.