Just look for a detergent that mentions that it protects or guards the color. And with dark colors, the least amount of detergent is better. Always wash in cold water.

And could be an old wives tale, but I was taught when something was new, and a bright or vibrant color, to wash in vinegar water the first time. Was suppose to "set" the color. However, I don't think fabric colors run like they used to.

Persil (by Henkels - Germany) is available in a formulation for colored and dark colors. You can usually purchase Persil at Miele laundry appliance dealers, or you can order it from many vendors on the internet. I buy Persil online from ABT Electronics. See the link below for Persil at ABT. You'll notice a liquid formula and a powdered formula called "Megaperls Color". I like the dry formula which isn't really a powder, it comes in the form of little beads.

Megaperls looks expensive, but it's really not. It's very concentrated, a little goes a long way. I use 1/8th cup per load in my Miele washer.

Megaperls is also available in a formula containing oxygen bleach (it's just plain Megaperls), so be sure to select the proper formula.

Alternatively, Henkels also makes a liquid detergent called Perwol Black Magic. It's a little harder to find, but it is available on line (do a google search). It's especially formulated for black garments.

Here is a link that might be useful: Persil Detergent at ABT Electronics

My favorite detergent for dark clothes is Cheer ColorGuard HE detergent - I use it for our good office/church clothes, and they come out looking beautiful. I also have the new Tide, which I plan to try after the Cheer is gone.

Hi,

Thanks for all the suggestions. Do the detergents mentioned work well in cold water? How do they work with warm or hot water?

Thanks so much,

Shel

Are there any HE powders for darks? Will there ever be a Woolite HE?

chipshot there already is a Woolite HE formula.

Here is a link that might be useful: Woolite HE

There doesn't seem to be a Woolite HE for darks, however.

Kind regards,

shel

Main concern for dark colors & black is avoid detergents with OBAs (Optical Brightening Agents). Sometimes listed in the ingredients as fabric brighteners. These agents make colors fluoresce so as to appear brighter, which isn't a good thing for darks & black.

I find that Tide Colorguard HE used with cold water leaves white marks on my dark clothes. Not real happy with the result

I could try turning them insideout, good suggestion

Use Cheer POwder for colors.

Agree with Sparky. Cheer powder is now safe for HE. Also, I find Miele UltraColor to be great for darks and coloured clothing. Very low sudsing, easy rinsing, smells very light and clean and just works great!

There is a Woolite for darks as well as a Woolite Everyday which is said to be HE but makes a lot of suds. I have a lot of black loads vs just darks and a lot of black delicate loads. I use Perwoll Black Magic for those. For regular darks/cottons I use Euro Persil color.

One I've used up those I plan to give the Miele color powder a try.

Coco...I used to use Woolite for darks in the top loader. I haven't in the front loader (still using Tide ColorGuard).

I'm dying to find HE Cheer powder. I can't find it yet.

George, i think they only have powdered Cheer labeled *he for both* now, last i heard from P&G that was the plan. Actually I've never seen Cheer HE, which doesnt mean there isnt one lol. Sparky probably knows.

As far as I know there is just the one now that says good for both machines/conv. and HE. in powder form. I used the regular formula for years with no problem. It was low sudsing at the time and did fine in f/l machines--for me anyway. I see the new at wal mart all time.

I've always used CHEER ULTRA STAY COLORFUL powder for our darks because it has no OBs. Always use warm water (cannot imagine washing ANYTHING in cold water). It is sudsy in my topload but I do extra rinses when I use it. I've also used Wisk and Tide Ultra Stain Release liquids on my darks and don't notice any fading. I think it was Cavimum who once pointed out that fading is going to happen over time no matter what detergent you use. Some day I'll run out of my huge box of Cheer and by then I hope Cheer makes a liquid without OBs also. I have also used this Cheer on other laundry because I love the idea of zero OBs.

Just bought a pkg of the for both version. It seems a little less sudsy that the non he version and that wasn't too bad. At least they haven't changed that scent yet!

I have been using Woolite Dark, and found that clothes still slowly faded. Then I noticed that the inside of socks was darker than the outside. I think washing slowly abrades the outside surface, and the dye doesn't penetrate to the core of the threads. Thus abrading the dyed surface makes them lighter.

That makes sense. I know manufactures often recommend turning clothes inside out when washing and drying, I often forget that step.

Brooke, the chlorine in tap water is probably the biggest cause of fading.

I also use woolite Darks and find thta close eventually do fade but not nearly as much as if using a regular detergent.