How to keep clothes from fading

[3rdGen SFan]

I'm a fan of faded clothes, but on the few items I don't want to fade, I do some things other posters mentioned above:
1. Button & zipper clothes up and turn them inside out.
2. Wash in cold water.
3. Don't use more detergent than necessary (because, by examining the water pumped out of the washer during many washes, I noticed the more detergent used the more dye washes out of clothes, but maybe it's the detergent I use--Tide Original).
4. Don't add Borax nor Washing Soda (or anything else. I use Borax and sometimes A&H Washing Soda for my whites).
5. Hang dry.

[JaxRhapsody]

The way I look at it; hot wayer and heavy detergent does it. Clothes aren't normally washes afer they are made, anyway, they come off the line, straight to shipping. As far as things like graphic tees, flip'em inside out. Helps the screen print last, and the heat pressed kind not get battered in the washer.

[70's Music Girl]

I guess it depends on the fabric. I bought a beautiful bright orange summer top hand wash cold with Ivory line dry and over half the color washed out. I bought at high end store but since I bought on end of summer sale I didn't go back to talk with the store about it.
I'm glad I didn't buy the green one, too.

Really the only thing I know is turn garmet inside out, hand wash cold, cold rinse and line dry in the shade. Now I think I've heard you can add white vinegar to the wash and will help hold the color.

[in_newengland]

I've never had clothes fade and I wear mostly 100% cotton. It could be the brand you are buying or it could be from putting clothes in the dryer. I just wash in cold water with a little bit of Woolite and maybe a brightener like Borax. Then I hang the clothing on racks to dry. That's it.

[JL]

Originally Posted by CCc girl

Cold water, delicate cycle, hardly any agitation. Arm and Hammer powder. Hang dy then fluff on low heat. Electric dryer. No fading here.

so using this as detergent instead? what about those tide and cheer ones that say about keeping the colors bright? do they really work?

[CCc girl]

Arm and Hammer powdered laundry detergent.

[Flamingo13]

I use Gain - but of course don't wash in warm water, always cold (unless it's JUST whites, then I do warm wash). Of course it depends on the quality of clothing as well.

[MerriMAC]

Don't want to risk clothes fading in the laundry? Don't wash them.

[hawaiiancoconut]

I usually have enough clothes where I only use a certain attire (shirt/pants) once every three weeks.

Saves on washing/dry cleaning them often.