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How to wash dark clothing without pulling the colour out

Short answer: Wash cool, short and inside out, use a detergent for darks without bleach, and do not overfill the mach...

Batch differences in colour and why they happen

Short answer: Every dye bath is a new process. Even with the same recipe, water temperature, fabric amount and time c...

Why the colour on screen does not match

Short answer: A screen makes colour with light, while a fabric throws light back. The two systems cannot hit exactly ...

How colour changes with the light in the shop

Short answer: A colour is light thrown back from the fabric. When the light source changes, the returned colour chang...

Why two black garments are not the same black

Short answer: Black is mixed from several dyes, and each mix gives its own shade. On top of that, fibre, knit and fin...

Optical brightener and what it really is

Short answer: Optical white is not a colour but a substance that absorbs invisible light and sends it out again as bl...

What turns white clothing grey

Short answer: A grey shade on white comes from deposits and from dirt that gets washed around. Limescale, detergent r...

Why deodorant causes yellow marks

Short answer: Aluminium salts in antiperspirant react with proteins in sweat. The reaction product settles in the fib...

How chlorine destroys colour

Short answer: Chlorine pulls oxygen out of the water and attacks the dye molecules. The bonds break, the colour disap...

Why clothing fades on the windowsill

Short answer: A window lets a large share of the sun's ultraviolet light through. Clothes left on a windowsill day af...

Colour fastness to light

Short answer: Sunlight breaks down dye chemically. Light fastness is measured from one to eight, and a low number mea...

Colour fastness to sweat

Short answer: Sweat is mildly acidic or alkaline and contains salts. If the dye is not bonded well enough, sweat can ...