Latest news with #CarolinaMcCauley
Daily Record
19-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Record
Woman shares hack to keep black clothes dark without fading - and it's so simple
A cleaning fan has shared a simple hack to stop black clothes from fading and it's so quick and easy and it's all to do with what you pop in the washing machine A cleaning enthusiast has provided a straightforward tip on TikTok for maintaining the rich hue of dark and black garments after washing. Carolina McCauley explained to her followers that she adds certain items into the machine to ensure her clothes stay vibrant and feel soft once washed. Some brands make laundry detergent specifically designed to keep your dark colors looking as good as new. But for those who love a natural washing remedy, Carolina advocates for a recipe more commonly associated with fish and chips than washing your clothes. Salt and vinegar are her go-to ingredients. Her video was accompanied by this advice: "Send this to someone who wears all black! Washing black clothes the right way keeps them looking bold and fresh!". How to wash dark clothes and prevent fading Carolina shared a six-step routine she uses to ensure her dark clothes doesn't fade or inadvertently bleach. Avoiding chemical fabric softeners, she favours white vinegar to keep her clothing soft. Yet, when it comes to cementing the colour in her dark clothes, Carolina reaches for the salt. The guidelines on how to wash your dark garments to prevent colours from running or fading are quite simple, reports the Express. Turning your clothing inside out before the wash, particularly jeans, is paramount to combat fading. Then, introduce half a cup of salt into the wash cycle to secure the shade. For a soft feel, opt for vinegar rather than synthetic fabric softener; additionally, Carolina suggests washing dark pieces separately from other coloured and white laundry. She emphasised the use of cold water, highlighting its gentle nature on fabric and dyed items. Once washed, aim to dry the clothes in the shade if possible as the sun can bleach your garments. Salt helps in preventing clothes from fading by acting as a 'colour-setting' agent, which assists in securing the dye's molecules within the fabric's fibres. This will help reduce any colour bleeding and prevent black dye washing out during a cycle. And vinegar is something cleaning guru Mrs Hinch's fans advocate for stopping dark jeans from fading too. One fan asked for advice on keeping her black jeans black on a Facebook page for her fans. And followers said to wash them inside out and add vinegar to the load. Another instructed: "So soak them in vinegar for a little while, before you wash them, it will set the colour dye." And a third commented: "We add white vinegar to all our black washes and it works amazing for us. No more faded jeans." Whirlpool also suggested some alternative methods for maintaining the darkness of black clothes, including washing items inside out on a cold water wash or a delicate cycle in the washing machine. The clothes can then be dried on a low heat or air dried to retain their colour. Other social media users advocate for tips, such as using non-bio washing detergent to makle sure your clothes "stay looking good for years".
Irish Daily Mirror
11-05-2025
- General
- Irish Daily Mirror
Ditch fabric softener for common pantry item that makes clothes 'soft and fresh'
A cleaning enthusiast has hailed a pantry staple for leaving her laundry feeling soft and smelling wonderful, all while giving commercial cleaners with their harsh chemicals the boot. Carolina McCauley let her social media followers in on her secret ingredient, which many will already have in their kitchen cupboards. Carolina has pointed out that using off-the-shelf fabric softeners can lead to residue accumulation inside your washing machine, which could end up spoiling your garb. However, by swapping it out for this everyday household staple, you're able to get snug, soft togs minus the unfriendly additives. In a fresh TikTok tutorial, she disclosed that she opts against ordinary fabric softeners when it comes to cleaning her clothes, opting instead for white vinegar to achieve that desired snuggly touch from her laundry. When it's laundry time, Carolina goes for white vinegar rather than the usual fabric softeners to keep her delicate pieces out of harm's way. Simply carry out your regular wash routine but swap out your fabric softener for a mere half cup of white vinegar, reports the Mirror. The cleaning aficionado is confident that your clothes will come out "soft and fresh" post-wash. White vinegar is touted as a natural fabric softener because it excels at dissolving residual detergent, mineral deposits, or 'body soil' such as sweat, body oils, and dead skin cells, which can otherwise make fabric feel rough and inflexible. By mixing vinegar into the washing machine's dispenser, it addresses all the issues that can make clothes uncomfortable to wear. Using vinegar in your laundry can do wonders, making whites brighter and eliminating those stubborn mildew smells along with intense sweat or other odours. It's also great at preventing pet hair and lint from sticking to your clothes. However, a word of caution – too much vinegar can cause chaos for both your washing machine and garments; overuse or incorrect use may harm fabrics or lead to corrosion. Indeed, frequent douses of vinegar could damage the rubber parts and seals of your faithful washing machine. Jennifer Kaminshi, from Affresh appliance care, warned Better Homes and Gardens: "White vinegar is an acid that can break down the rubber gaskets and hoses in your washing machine, leading to costly damage." The home advice experts at Better Homes and Gardens have also offered their advice, recommending reining in vinegar use particularly when washing different colours together. They've given a particularly strict caution against mixing vinegar with any kind of chlorine bleach. These substances combined create harmful fumes that are anything but fun at a party. Plus, stretchy materials don't take kindly to white vinegar - its acidic nature can destroy the elasticity in your fitness gear, leaving your stretchable attire disappointingly loose. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
