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What Is Colour Fastness In Laundry?
Have you ever washed a blue towel with a white shirt, only to end up with a light blue-stained shirt? This happens due to colour fastness, which measures a fabric’s resistance to fading, bleeding, or transferring its color to other fabrics. In this case, the blue towel had low colour fastness. Conversely, a fabric with high colour fastness retains its color and does not stain other fabrics during washing.
Some refer to this phenomenon as color bleeding or fading, but the technical term is Colour Fastness.
The fabric’s colour fastness depends on the type of dye, the fiber, and their combination. Even the same dye reacts differently on various fibers.
A common misconception is that higher-priced garments automatically have better colour fastness. This is not always true. Sometimes, designers or manufacturers choose specific dyes or fabrics to achieve a particular look, even if it reduces colour fastness. For example, new indigo-dyed jeans often include a warning label: “This garment may fade during washing.”
Other factors that affect colour fastness include:
- Perspiration
- Heat
- Sunlight
Repeated washing can also cause fading or bleeding, even in garments that initially resist color transfer. Some fabrics have protective finishes that wear off after multiple washes, increasing the likelihood of bleeding or fading over time.
Follow these steps to check your garment’s colour fastness before washing:
- Read the Care Label:
Look for warnings such as “wash separately” or “wash with like colours.” These suggest low colour fastness. - Perform a Simple Test:
- Choose a hidden spot on the garment, such as an interior seam or hem.
- Soak the spot with water and a small amount of detergent.
- Dab the area with a clean white cloth.
- If no color transfers: The garment has high colour fastness and is safe for regular washing.
- If color transfers: The garment has low colour fastness. Wash it separately to prevent staining other clothes.
