New clothes for Tet: how to wash them without fading or colour running onto other clothes

Quick answer: new coloured clothes, especially red, navy and black, should be tested for colour run first, then washed separately for the first 2–3 washes, inside out, in cool water, without long soaks, and dried in the shade. If colour has already run onto other clothes, rewash them straight away while still wet; don’t dry them first.

Why new clothes release colour

Deeply dyed fabric often has excess dye on the surface of the fibres. In the first few washes this comes out into the water, especially with hot water, long soaks or hard rubbing. After a few washes the amount usually drops.

One-minute colourfastness test

1. Wet a hidden spot (an inside seam or hem) with warm water.
2. Press a white tissue or white cloth on the wet spot.
3. If the tissue picks up colour, that item must be washed separately.

How to wash the first few times

• Wash separately or only with similar colours.
• Turn clothes inside out, do up buttons and zips.
• Cool water, not hot.
• Don’t soak for long: overnight soaks release more dye.
• Gentle programme for lightweight, printed or embroidered items.
• A moderate dose of laundry liquid as the label directs.
• No bleach on coloured clothes.

Some people soak new clothes in salt or vinegar before washing. This doesn’t replace testing for colour run and washing separately the first few times.

Drying to keep colours bright

• Hang clothes as soon as the wash finishes; don’t leave wet clothes in the drum (colour can transfer).
• Dry in the shade or somewhere airy, inside out.
• Avoid strong sun all day: it fades deep colours quickly.

Ao dai, silk and sequinned clothes

• Read the label: many are hand wash or dry clean only.
• Hand wash gently in cool water; don’t rub or wring.
• See also: How to wash lightweight, silk and sheer fabrics

If colour has run onto other clothes

1. Don’t dry them: once dry, the stain sets.
2. Rewash the stained item straight away, separately, in cool water with a normal dose of laundry liquid.
3. Repeat if needed before drying.

Whites turned pink or dull: see Can you wash whites with colours?. For keeping white shirts bright, SPY Super White is made for whites.

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

Sorting into baskets as you change clothes saves sorting again on wash day.

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Read next: How to wash workwear