Can you wash whites with colours? Avoiding colour runs and what to do if it happens

Quick answer: wash whites separately, especially from new coloured clothes and dark colours (red, navy, black). Older coloured items that have been washed many times and no longer bleed can go with light colours in cool water. If colours run, rewash straight away while the clothes are still wet; don’t dry them first.

Why whites get stained or dull

• New coloured clothes often release dye in the first few washes.
• Hot water releases more dye.
• Long soaks with whites and colours together.
• Repeated mixed washes with light colours gradually dull whites, even without a visible stain.

Sorting before you wash

Group	Includes
Whites	White shirts, white uniforms, white towels
Lights	Pastels, light grey, beige
Darks	Red, navy, black, jeans
New items	Wash separately for the first 2–3 washes

Quick colourfastness test

Wet a hidden corner (an inside seam) with warm water and press it onto a white tissue. If the tissue picks up colour, wash that item separately.

If colours have run

1. Don’t dry it, or the stain will set.
2. Rewash the whites straight away, separately, in cool water with a normal dose of detergent.
3. Repeat if needed before drying.
4. Old stains or special fabrics: follow the care label or take them to a laundry shop.

Keeping whites bright

• Wash whites separately, without packing the drum.
• Treat yellowed collars and underarms early. See: How to whiten yellowed white shirts at home
• Dry somewhere airy in gentle sun.
• Use a detergent made for whites: SPY Super White is a concentrated wash-and-soften liquid with Tinopal for brighter whites, washing and softening in one step, in Passion and Luxor, 3.6kg pouch and 5.2kg can.

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