Feeling a Little Faded? Try These 10 Detergents for Black Clothes

There’s something that’s incredibly satisfying about a black outfit. It’s an easy way to pull off the Parisian look I’m personally always striving for, while not having to worry too much about wrinkles. Plus, with a little extra weight since Covid, I’m desperately leaning into the notion that black is a slimming color.

And so, over the last few years, I’ve amassed my fair amount of black tees, jeans, beanies, and even a pair of overalls. It’s easy to match and I can fake looking put-together when really I just rolled out of bed for my next Zoom meeting. But there’s a downside to this uniform. Yep, you guessed it: fading. What was once my ultra-chic head-to-toe ensemble noir now is a bit more grey, which just doesn’t have the same Alain Delon (a famous French actor) effect I’m always striving for. On top of that, it’s a pitiable thing to try to match black jeans with an aged and grey tee. Something about it looks off. It ruins the mood.

Why Black Clothing Fades

Darker clothing contains dye. It’s a simple fact, no matter whether it was altered before or after being assembled. Washing a darker garment will not only clean dirt and debris from its surface but also strip the dye ever so slowly. It washes away. Wear can do this as well, because abrasions reveal light spots (see: raw denim) and the loosening of fibers causes less light refraction (making the shirt seem brighter). The sun, despite tanning skin, fades colored clothing, too.

How Dark Detergents Work

Detergents designed for darker clothing contain chemicals that slow the process. They can’t technically restore the color, but they’ll trap the ink before it lifts from the material. (I’ve heard coffee can bring back a bit of the lost black, though.) Some detergents tighten the fiber to reduce the shirt’s overall vibrancy.

Amazon

Best Overall Detergent for Black Clothes

Renew Black 3D Liquid Detergent

• $28.00 at Amazon

Amount: 50 fl oz

This may be the holy grail of detergents on this list, given the cult-like status of Perwoll’s product. While other detergents prevent further fading, Perwoll actively renews faded color. Fading can occur in two ways: Either the dye itself washes away over time on a garment, or the garment’s fibers break and loosen, causing less light refraction (and therefore vibrancy). This solves the latter. By washing with Perwoll, the detergent coats the fibers to strengthen them a bit and add a little more color to your otherwise drab pair of jeans.

Amazon

Best Affordable Detergent for Black Clothes

Woolite Darks Liquid Detergent

• $8.00 at Amazon
  $11.00 (30% off)

Amount: 50 fl oz

The ubiquitous favorite in most grocery stores, Woolite Darks is an easy-to-find and popular favorite for anyone worried about a little bit of fading. It promises that your favorite black tee won’t fade —even after 20 washes. This is the detergent to trust whenever you must wash that (new) vintage band tee you just bought, because its formula prevents pills and stretching.

Courtesy

Best Upgrade Detergent for Black Clothes

Puracy Natural Laundry Detergent

• $12.00 at puracy.com

Amount: 16 oz

Puracy’s popularity is due to their eco-derived ingredients that actually work. Puracy, while not as well-known as other detergents, is no less effective at keeping clothes fresh. Blacks in particular fare well with its formula.

Walmart

Best Pac Detergent for Black Clothes

Woolite Darks Pacs Laundry Detergent Pods

• $33.00 at Walmart

Amount: 30 count

Woolite is back on the list, but in an easier-to-use form. If you’re like me and hate futzing with some of the more unwieldy detergent bottles out there, then a detergent pack can be your best friend. What Woolite Dark Packs lack in size, they make up for in efficiency, offering the same fade-resistant technology as its liquid counterpart.

Amazon

Best Value Detergent for Black Clothes

Persil Laundry Detergent Liquid

• $26.00 at Amazon

Amount: 82.5 fl oz

Persil’s Intense Fresh liquid laundry detergent formula helps to eliminate visible and invisible stains. It’s a good option for day-to-day washing, and this concentrated formula delivers 2x more cleaning power and helps to fight tough stains. There’s enough detergent in one bottle to wash up to 110 loads of laundry.

The Laundress

Best Scented Detergent for Black Clothes

The Laundress Signature Detergent

• $26.00 at The Laundress

Amount: 32 fl oz

This option from The Laundress works best in cold water for dark clothes. It has scent notes of citrus, lavender, jasmine, sandalwood, musk, patchouli, lily of the valley and cedarwood. This detergent also comes with deep-cleaning enzymes that target fresh and set-in stains, making it a good option for everyday usage.

Amazon

Best Stain Removal Detergent for Black Clothes

OxiClean Dark Protect Powder

• $11.00 at Amazon

Amount: 3lb

Oxiclean’s reputation precedes it. For nearly a decade — remember the midnight Billy Mays commercials? — it’s been the top stain-fighter for laundry. Of course they have a fade protection product, too. The Oxiclean Dark Protect isn’t technically a detergent, but it works with your detergent to maintain fabric’s integrity and reduce fading by pilling and pulling after extended washing. Depending on your washer, you’ll either sprinkle it in with the clothing in the basin itself, or directly with the liquid detergent. Either way, it’s just that little extra you need to keep your blacks looking their finest.

Amazon

Best All-Purpose Detergent for Black Clothes

Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Liquid Laundry Detergent

• $18.00 at Amazon
  $19.00 (6% off)

Amount: 64 fl oz

A perennial favorite for many who love a clean home, Mrs. Meyers is a trusted brand through and through. Their Lavender Laundry Detergent may not say “darks” in the title, but it doesn’t have to: It works on any clothes you throw in. Because the formula relies on natural enzymes and plant derivatives, fading is less likely to occur after regular washing than a detergent that’s chemical-based. It’s as much about prevention as it is about maintenance with laundry, and Mrs. Meyers is a good choice for both.

Amazon

Best Sensitive-Skin Detergent for Black Clothes

Seventh Generation Ultra Concentrated Laundry Detergent

• $14.00 at Amazon

Amount: 23.1 fl oz

Seventh Generation is known as one of the top-selling natural detergents and its Ultra Concentrated formula is a testament to its own popularity. With an auto-dosing nozzle, a formula that leans on enzymes instead of chemicals, and a concentrated 66-load amount in a 23-ounce bottle, this product is a great all-around detergent. And, being naturally-derived, it’s just as safe on darks and lights, reducing fading for any wash.

Amazon

Best Everyday Detergent for Black Clothes

Tide Liquid Laundry Detergent

• $13.00 at Amazon

Amount: 92 fl oz

Tide remains the detergent O.G. and, as such, makes an appearance on this list. An all-around favorite for college grads and grandmas alike, it’s popularity is due to one thing: It works! With its broad pouring spout and easy-to-read measuring cup, the ubiquitous orange bottle is a good starting point when you start realizing your blacks may not be looking a little drab, but you don’t want to break the bank on a new detergent just yet. It’ll do more good than it does damage.

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