These 5 Laundry Habits Are Causing Your Clothes to Fade Faster

something cheap. Fading can happen to your $10 tee just as quickly as it can to your designer blouse. But if your outfits are losing their color too soon, the real issue might be how you’re washing them, not what they’re made of.

Even if you’re faithfully following mom’s laundry advice, certain common habits could unknowingly be stripping your clothes of their vibrant colors with every wash. Hot-water washes, high-heat dries, and even that “extra scoop” of detergent can strip the color right out of your favorite pieces long before their time.

Read on as we break down the five most common laundry habits causing your clothes to lose their vibrancy, and tips on how you can avoid them from now on.

1 of 5 | You Keep Using Hot Water, and It’s Draining the Color from Your Clothes

Hot water is one of the main reasons colors fade. It opens up the fibers of your textiles, allowing dye to leak out during the wash cycle. That bleeding dulls your shirt, sweater, or dress long before it wears out. If you’re washing anything dark, vibrant, or delicate, like a linen or leather blends, hot water is the fastest way to destroy their color integrity.

Try this instead:

1. Wash clothes in cold or cool water. It protects dye and uses less energy. Plus, it’s gentler on fabrics, which helps your clothes hold onto their original color longer.
2. Use cold-water detergent specifically made for color retention. These formulas are designed to dissolve properly in cooler temps and contain ingredients that help lock in dyes during the wash cycle.
3. Separate lights and darks. Don’t wash your dark jeans with your light casual tops. Color transfer can happen even in cold water, dulling your lights and muting your darks over time.
4. Reserve hot water for heavy-duty loads (towels, heavily stained items), not everyday clothing. Hot water breaks down fabric fibers and fades dyes quickly, making it too harsh for most garments you want to keep looking sharp.

2 of 5 | You’re Overstuffing the Washer, and It’s Wearing the Color Right Off Your Clothes

It’s tempting to save time by cramming as much as possible into your washing machine. But when clothes don’t have space to move, they rub against each other like sandpaper. That constant friction wears down the surface of the fabric, and with it, the color. This is a major problem if you’re washing textured or dyed items like suede, tailored dress shirts, or anything with printing or embroidery. And it’s especially damaging for formalwear or garments you’ve invested in.

Here’s what works better:

1. Stick to medium-sized loads. Clothes need room to move freely in the drum, and overstuffing creates friction that wears down fabric and fades color faster.
2. Follow your washer’s weight guidelines. Overloading or underloading your machine can mess with the wash cycle’s effectiveness, leading to poor rinsing and dye transfer between garments.
3. Sort loads not just by color but by fabric type. Washing heavy items like jeans with delicate fabrics causes rougher textures to rub against softer ones. This increases the chances of pilling, color bleeding, and premature fading.
4. Never mix heavy bedding with lightweight textiles. The weight and bulk of items like comforters or blankets can create friction and strain on delicate fabrics during the wash cycle, leading to color fading, fabric damage, or even tearing.

3 of 5 | You’re Pouring in Too Much Detergent, and It’s Leaving Behind a Fading Film

More detergent doesn’t equal cleaner clothes. In fact, overusing detergent can leave a residue that dulls color and weakens fabric. That leftover film sticks to your textiles, causing dullness and making it harder for clothes to rinse properly. This is especially risky for high-end clothing like suits, silk blouses, or tailored garments you’d normally take to a professional dry cleaner.

Use these smarter steps:

1. Always measure detergent based on load size and soil level. Using too much detergent can leave residue on fabrics, which breaks down dyes over time and leads to faster fading.
2. Use high-efficiency (HE) detergent if you have an HE washer. HE detergents are specially formulated to produce fewer suds and rinse out more thoroughly in low-water machines.
3. Add an extra rinse cycle to remove any leftover residue if needed. A second rinse ensures all detergent is fully washed out, which helps preserve fabric color and softness over time.

4 of 5 | You Keep Drying Clothes in Direct Sunlight, and It’s Bleaching Out the Color

Line drying is great in theory, but direct sunlight is harsh on fabric dye. UV rays break down dye molecules quickly, especially in dark-colored items like jeans, blazers, or tailored dress shirts. That sunlight exposure bleaches the fabric before it even finishes drying. Even natural fabrics like linen and cotton, or wedding dress lace and sheer overlays, are vulnerable.

Here’s a better way to dry:

1. Hang dry in the shade or indoors when possible. Direct sunlight breaks down fabric dye over time, so drying in the shade helps preserve color and prevent premature fading.
2. Always turn clothes inside out before drying. Turning garments inside out protects the outer fabric from friction and UV exposure, both of which can dull colors quickly.
3. Use drying racks in well-ventilated areas. Airflow helps clothes dry faster without the intense heat of a dryer, which can be harsh on colors and delicate fabrics.
4. For dark or high-end pieces, use a low-heat dryer cycle instead of direct sun. A gentle heat setting minimizes shrinkage and dye breakdown, especially for blacks, navies, and designer items prone to fading.

5 of 5 | You’re Skipping Fabric Softener, and That’s Causing More Rubbing and Fading

Fabric softener reduces friction in both the washer and dryer, which helps prevent surface damage and keeps fibers from breaking down. If you’re washing delicate items like a dress shirt, blouse, or formal dress, that extra friction will fade them faster. This also applies to leather-trimmed items, suede accessories, and even bedding.

Make these small changes:

1. Use a high-quality liquid fabric softener designed for color protection.
2. For sensitive items, consider a dryer sheet or wool dryer balls as a gentle alternative.
3. Add softener during the rinse cycle, not at the start.
4. Be consistent. The less rubbing your clothes endure, the longer their color lasts.

Preserve the Bold, Rich Colors You Love. Trust Faulkner’s Professional Laundry Care!

Just because you wear your favorite wardrobe on repeat doesn’t mean they have to fade before their time. Bring them to Faulkner’s Cleaners, and our team will keep every shade looking vibrant, crisp, and true to its original tone, wash after wash, dry clean after dry clean.

Since 1954, Faulkner Cleaners has been Dallas’s trusted, family-owned provider of environmentally friendly dry cleaning and garment care. With same-day service, plus complimentary pickup and delivery from our Oak Lawn and Lakewood locations, we proudly serve Preston Hollow, Lake Highlands, Kessler Park, and surrounding neighborhoods.

Call us today at 213-325-6397 to schedule your free pickup, or visit us at 4225 Oak Lawn Ave., Dallas, TX 75219.