What Temperature Should You Wash Dark Clothes?

We all want to prevent our dark-colored clothes from fading. The best way to prevent washable dark clothes from fading is to wash them in cool water that is between 60 to 80 degrees F.

We’ll share the best tips and science on how to keep dark clothes looking their best.

How to Wash Dark Clothes

1. Separate dark clothes from light-colored clothes. Dark-colored clothes—black, red, navy, brown, dark gray—go in one pile. Whites and pastels go in another pile.
2. Sort clothes again. Within the pile of dark clothes are items that are labeled as machine washable and those that are handwash only. Separate them to prevent accidental color-bleeding and damage. We’ll deal with each pile separately.
3. One last sort. In the machine washable pile are lightweight items like blouses and heavy items like jeans. Separate them. If there are heavily soiled pieces with ground-in dirt or oil, put them in a separate pile.
4. Select a detergent. There are detergents labeled specifically for cold water. However, a good quality laundry detergent with enzymes will provide similar results. Read the label and always measure the detergent based on the size of the wash load.
5. Select the washer cycle and water temperature. Choose the best washer cycle for the type of fabrics in the load and select the cold water setting. The one exception is to use the warm water setting for heavily-stained dark clothes.
6. Prepare the clothes. Pretreat any visible stains with an enzyme-based stain remover or a dab of laundry detergent. Work it into the fabric and let it sit for at least 10 minutes. Close all zippers and fasteners to prevent snags or tears. Turn the clothes inside out and load the washer.

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How to Prevent Dark Clothes From Fading in the Wash

Turn Clothes Inside Out

When fabrics tumble against each other or the washer agitator and drum, the action causes abrasion that can make fabrics to look worn and faded. Always turn the clothes inside out to prevent abrasion and help keep the colors dark.

Use the Correct Amount of Laundry Detergent

Overdosing laundry detergent leaves a soapy residue on fabrics that makes them look dull. Always measure liquid and powdered detergents and add them to the bottom of the empty washer drum or use the automatic dispenser.

Use a Liquid Detergent or Pod for Dark Clothes

Powdered laundry detergents may not dissolve fully in the cool water temperatures recommended for dark clothes.

Liquid detergents or pods are more reliable, but if you like powdered detergents or DIY detergents, dissolve the correct amount in a quart of hot water before adding the product to the washer drum. Use cool water to wash the load of dark laundry.

Don’t Overload the Washer

Cramming in as many dark clothes as possible in a washer load causes more abrasion between the fabrics. Do two smaller loads and be sure to separate the fabrics by weight.

Add Distilled White Vinegar to the Final Rinse Cycle

Add one cup of distilled white vinegar to the final rinse cycle to help remove any soapy residue trapped in the fabric. The residue creates a dull finish on dark clothes.

Try Air-Drying Darks

Even if you follow all of the best practices when washing dark clothes, you can still end up with faded, dull blacks if you dry them on high heat in an automatic dryer.

Add in the friction from the tumbling and clothes can lose color quickly. Air-drying is a more gentle choice.

Hang clothes from a drying rack or clothesline. If you are using an outdoor clothesline, keep the clothes inside out so the sun won’t fade the dark colors. If you are drying dark clothes in a dryer, use the medium heat setting and set a timer to prevent overdrying.