Black clothes that turn grey over time

Short answer: Black turns grey from detergent residue, limescale and lint, not only from lost dye. Wash cold, dose less, and keep black away from terry.

The three causes

First, every wash pulls a little dye out. Second, limescale and detergent residue settle as a pale film. Third, light lint from towels and pale clothes clings on. The last two matter far more, and both can be fixed.

Washing that preserves black

Wash at thirty degrees inside out, halve the dose with soft water and skip the softener. Wash black on its own and keep terry entirely out. An extra rinse removes the residue that lightens the fabric.

How to bring the blackness back

Run a wash with no detergent and a cup of white vinegar. It removes limescale and soap and makes the fabric noticeably darker again. Then take off lint with a lint roller. See bamboo clothing for men.

When the dye really has gone

If the fabric is evenly greyish after a vinegar wash and free of lint, the dye has left. Only fabric dye can put that right. See bamboo t-shirts for men and bamboo underwear for men.

Frequently asked questions

Is there detergent made for black

Yes, and it works, mainly because it contains less bleach and fewer optical brighteners.

Does washing in cold water help

Yes, noticeably. Heat pulls out more dye at every wash.

Can black be washed with navy

Yes. Sort by dark and light rather than by individual colours.