How To Care For Your Naturally Dyed Clothes
Natural dyes are living colours. By their very essence, they are natural living colour. Natural and botanical dyes create wonderfully enduring colour which, if treated well, will last for a long time. In this article, we would like to help equip you with the knowledge of how to best take care of your naturally dyed clothing to help it live as long as you. So lets dive in…
Hand Wash / Cool Washing Cycle
We know many who wash naturally dyed items with their other clothing on a ‘normal’ wash cycle and do not suffer for it. So if you do not have the time to take this level of care of your items then don’t! It should never feel like a burden. However, if you do have the luxury of time to hand wash some of your clothes then we would recommend this as the best way to care for your items. If this isn’t an option then a cool delicate wash cycle in the machine is preferable.
Use a pH-neutral Soap
Natural dyes are magical in that they are living colours and can change over time. However, it is only magical when the colours are modified intentionally rather than when you have an accidental run in with acidic salad dressing e.g. acidic. Natural dyes can react to changes in pH so we would always recommend using a pH-neutral soap. As with your skin, you don't want to disrupt the natural pH balance. In the UK (and the US I believe), Ecover is a good option. They also have a nice fabric softener.
Avoid Strong Deodorants
It isn’t only laundry detergent that can shift the pH of your garment, deodorants can also shift the colour. Therefore, we recommend avoiding them where possible. This is ideal for your body anyway, it's just a visual representation with naturally dyed goods. If you tend to use natural deodorants then you might be able to get away with it. We would recommend testing a tiny amount on the inside of the clothing first to see if there is a reaction. Some dyes react more strongly to pH shifts than others so it’s always worth checking if you feel more comfortable wearing deodorants with your clothing.
Dry Out of Direct Sunlight
Direct sunlight can fade natural dyes overtime. Like with our skin, direct and harsh sunlight is damaging so it's always best to minimise exposure as much as is practically possible. Hang your clothing in a shady spot during Summer months and your clothing will thank you for it.
Keep Washes to a Minimum
This is a general rule of thumb for anyone who wishes to live a green lifestyle. Your clothing may not be dirty after one wash so why wash it? Be mindful of how much you wash your clothes and ask yourself if you can get another wear out of it before putting it in the laundry bin because, as with all clothing including synthetically dyed items, the colours will fade overtime with excessive washing.
In Summary
Natural dyes are resilient and robust but must be treated as the natural resource that they are. We suggest thinking about switching to pH neutral soaps like Ecover for all of your clothes, washing less, avoiding deodorants and staying out of harsh sun as a rule of thumb for yourself, your clothes and the environment.
It is also important to note that we are writing from our own personal experience. Our lived experience of natural dye may differ to yours, depending on where you are in the world, the natural dyes used etc… There are a vast array of natural dyes out there in the world, all with their own unique light and wash fastness. These are just a small number of tips that you can apply to the most commonly used natural dyes in order to keep them looking great for years to come. If you’d like more in-depth, bespoke advice regarding your garment’s care instructions then we always recommend checking the label and talking to the natural dyer who made your garment.
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