Restore jeans and stop them fading by adding 1 ‘brilliant’ item to the washing machine
Jeans can easily begin to look worn out and faded but there is a natural way to restore their colours by using one ingredient you likely already have in your kitchen cupboard.
Jeans are an essential part of any autumn wardrobe and if your favourite pair are looking a little weathered then there is a simple way to restore them.
It is common for jeans to become faded and worn out looking after summer as prolonged exposure to the sun can lead to the dye wearing away.
However, Lynsey Crombie, Britain’s most popular cleaner known as the Queen of Clean, has shared a vintage laundry hack to get jeans looking brand new again with a natural kitchen ingredient.
Lynsey said: “Did you know that adding salt to your dark laundry can help lock in the colour, prevent colour run, AND stop fading?
“Just pop in an egg cupful directly into the drum before adding your clothes. The difference will be AMAZING!”
Adding salt to the washing machine will help the dye molecules in the jeans bond more efficiently with the fabric, which stops the colours from bleeding.
By locking in the dye, salt can help minimise fading to help prevent jeans from becoming worn out through washing and general use.
What is also great about salt is that it is also a natural stain remover, especially for greasy or oily stains, so it will give jeans a good wash while also helping to revive them.
How to use salt to prevent jeans from becoming faded and worn
All you need to do is to add half a cup, which is roughly 120g, to the drum of your washing machine along with your jeans and dark-coloured clothing.
Avoid washing jeans with strong detergent or bleach as harsh chemicals will weaken the fabric and strip away the colour.
Place the jeans on a cold wash, and once the time is up hang the jeans up to dry in a shaded area outside or avoid placing them near the window if hanging them up inside.
Lysney said: “When drying your dark clothes, choose a shady spot—sunlight can fade those beautiful deep tones!” Using a dryer can also cause jeans to fade faster at the heat can break down the fibres and affect the dye.
Your jeans should look much better and less worn out, but try to avoid washing them frequently or exposing them to heat to keep the dye intact.
In Lynsey’s comment section, many fans were amazed by this laundry hack and said could not wait to try it out themselves.
One user said: “Just bought a pair of blue and pair of black jeans, will definitely give this a try.” Another person wrote: “Brilliant. I remember my granny doing this and I used to think she was crazy.”
Someone else commented: “Salt was a must for my gran I used to think she was nuts - now I realise she was a genius who lived for these hacks!”
