Revive your dyed clothes with this simple bay leaf trick straight from your kitchen
Everyone has had a laundry mishap at some point. The key is to learn from our mistakes and rectify what's gone wrong. Dyed clothes can be restored to their original state; all you need are bay leaves, which I'm sure you have in your kitchen cupboard. This trick has saved many a wardrobe.
Salvaging faded clothing
Today, we will share how to use traditional bay leaves to benefit laundry. Adding a few leaves into the drum can ensure you won't need to worry about fabrics losing their color. Until now, no scientist has conducted official research to determine the chemical compound in bay leaves responsible for preserving the pigment in colorful fabrics. Despite this, people continue to use them and affirm their effectiveness. The best part is that bay leaves don't change the fabric's structure, unlike chemical stain removers, which can damage the fibers.
Adding leaves to the drum is effective, but there may always be a situation where we forget to add them and end up with stained clothes. In such a case, there's no need to fret. The best approach to removing stains is to soak the stained items in a bath of bay leaf decoction. Not sure how to prepare it? We'll tell you!
Removing dye from fabric with bay leaf decoction
Using bay leaves for washing clothes has become a real game-changer! It's an inexpensive and eco-friendly way to salvage clothes that have sustained minor damage. All you need to do is prepare the correct decoction, which can even remove the toughest stains. And all of it without resorting to harsh chemicals that often damage fabrics and irritate the skin. Preparing the decoction is quite simple. Below, you'll find detailed instructions.
Add a whole packet of dried bay leaves in a pot and soak them in water. Then, simmer on low heat for 20-30 minutes until the leaves have darkened in color. Dissolve the decoction in warm water and submerge all the stained fabrics. Let them soak for at least a few hours (ideally overnight), and in the morning, toss the fabrics into the washing machine and wash as usual. After an overnight soak, the stains should disappear. If there's still some discoloration, repeat the process. More determined stains might need more time to draw out. Remember, to be effective, bay leaves need to be fresh and not stale. Dried leaves should be stored in airtight containers, and fresh leaves should be used promptly after being picked.
