Someone asked me via email recently if I had made a “homemade” version of those laundry color catcher sheets. I had to admit I hadn’t ever TRIED those before, let alone made my own! I honestly didn’t know what the appeal was. But I’m always open to new ideas…so I looked into it. Turns out there’s some pretty darn good reasons for utilizing these little laundry helpers!
A color catcher catches loose dyes found in the wash water and prevents the dye from running or bleeding onto other clothes. By using a color catcher in your washing machine you can wash darks and lights together which saves you time by reducing the need for sorting, and money by reducing the need for half-size loads. Makes sense!
So I took the challenge.
At first I was kinda stumped! It wasn’t hard to find homemade recipes for color catchers, but there definitely wasn’t a consensus. Some called for soaking cloth in salt water…some in washing soda & water. Some said you had to use fabric stabilizer (interfacing for you sewers out there), some even suggested dried out baby wipes.
These little color catcher things were so confusing! ;-) But when I stumbled across this comment on a sewing website I knew I was on to something. When a person refers to “Grandma” in their post…you know there’s got to be some merit to it! :-)
Here is what Erica had to say:
The color catcher is a piece of white something with soda ash solution dried onto it. You can make your own with soda ash, usually sold in swimming pool supply areas of hardware stores. (Grandma called it washing soda.) Just put a tablespoon of the dry soda into a cup of hot water until it dissolves. Put in a yard of white junk fabric, or ratty toweling, and let it become saturated. Let it dry. Cut off a piece and wash it with your bleedable fabric. The soda ash grabs and holds the dye. You can make a lifetime supply of color catchers with a buck or two of soda ash. For those of you who tie dye, this is exactly the technique for pre-treating fabric before applying dye. Soda plus cotton grabs loose dye molecules. Cheers!
Erica
Cheers to YOU Erica! I love the voice of reason in this crazy, mixed-up world. :-)
I decided to give Erica’s method a go. I cut up a couple of pieces of white felt I had on hand, soaked them in a solution of water and washing soda, and hung them to dry on my mini indoor clothesline (someday I WILL have an outdoor line!)
When they were dry (which doesn’t take long in Utah!) I washed two brand new washcloths together, one red, one white, and threw in a color catcher.
Here are the results (which are a little hard to see because of my less-than-brilliant idea to photograph white on white):
Not a hint of red on the white washcloth…and a fair amount of red on the color catcher. Convincing!
I then tried a single sheet of my homemade color catchers in a load of dark clothes. None of these items were “new”. They had all been washed plenty of times before, but the color catcher still managed to pick up some of the color from the wash water. Impressive!
Bottom line: I would definitely recommend trying these for yourself. They couldn’t possibly be EASIER to make…and saving TIME and MONEY is One Good Thing!
What do you do to reuse them?
Can you use these more than once?
I have to try this. Where did you find that box of washing soda?
in the laundry detergent aisle – I found it at Walmart cheap. I think you may be able to find at your local hardware store also – under soda ash? I think folks also use for pools…
I just found out that washing soda is easy to make, I guess you just bake baking soda or something, you should look it up and see if it works for you. where I live we can not buy washing soda, so not an option, but I do not need it now so I have not tried. But, if I can reuse these sheets I will try both. Does anyone know about reusing them?
Sandy, at Walmart, it on the same aisle as the detergents, but on the opposite side, with the oxyclean, etc. I have the same question as Julie…..do you just reuse them or re-soak them before using again? I had never noticed washing soda until I saw your recipe for the homemade detergent.Now, I keep a supply for lots of other uses…thanks so much for all your wonderful tips! Also, how did you make that darling window dressing in the picture with the clothesline?
Here you go Patti :-) http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/05/shabby-chic-rag-valance.html
Thanks, girl!
Do you repeat the process to reuse them?
How much washing soda and water did you use?
“Just put a tablespoon of the dry soda into a cup of hot water until it dissolves. ”
It’s in the instructions above!
Yes, just keep the cloths and make a new batch when you run out. :-)
One tablespoon of washing soda per 1 cup water.
So, basically they’re good for one use and then soak them again? I hate to sound dense…
I used a flour sack dishtowel I bought at WalMart. I cut it into 16 squares. Not sure how it’s going to work, but I’ll find out when the washer quits!
My color catchers made from flour sack dishtowel came out white, so I guess the fabric has a lot to do with the results. I’ll buy felt next trip to WalMart and try again.
Hi Miss Jillee my hair is falling tremendously do u have any home made receipe for me. I really need to do something about it or soon I might go completely bald. I have tried nearly all of the most expensive shampoos out there. None of them worked. Also I went to the hospital on many occasions where they did many tests on me and found nothing is wrong with my general health. Still my hair is falling. Please I need your help. Thank you.
I have alopecia (I’m only 25, but it can happen early). It isn’t horribly noticeable right now BUT add in a some stress or any other little factor that goes into hair loss and I lose so much hair that I can’t hide my scalp. First check to see if things that aren’t generally tested or can’t be tested can be a culprit. A good list is here: http://www.homemademedicine.com/home-remedies-hair-loss-in-women.html
See a dermotologist if you get pimples in your scalp (the ones near your face don’t count), if you find chunks of dried skin, if you find multiple scabs, if you have sore spots, or if you find spots of raw skin. Those problems don’t tend to come up in blood tests, but are reasons for hair loss and there are topical treatments for them. Remember that it takes about 3 months to see a difference because the hair has to stop falling out, start growing, and then grow long enough for you to see it.
The link I gave has some home remedies but what I’ve found works the best is stopping all use of heat products, mixing in rosemary and tea tree oil with my shampoo, and always using conditioner. Massage thr shampoo in and leave it on for 5 minutes. If you have long hair, squeeze the excess out of the hair falling on and past your neck to lessen the amount of oils on the hair where it won’t help and can make it flat , which makes the hair loss look worse.
Rosemary can help start hair follicles that are in the dormant phase so you have extra hair growing while trying to get the others to stop falling out. Tea tree oil has antibiotic and antifingul properties so it will help make sure there isn’t a bacterial problem. However, tree oil is drying. The rosemary will be enough to even things out on the scalp, but my hair always needs conditioner too.
This is getting off the subject of color catchers, but I wanted to comment on your hair loss question. I love Mary’s response above, but thought I would pass this along as well. I recently read in a “natural cures” blog that consumption of dairy products (including cheese) can be a key contributing factor to hair loss. It would be worth a try to abstain for about 6 months to see if you can see a difference. It could be a “cheap” fix. Also cited as a cause for hair loss is hormone imbalance. Emu oil is suggested as a remedy for hair loss as well. Following is the blog website that tells about the emu oil. The information about the hormone imbalance and dairy products came in an emailed newsletter to me, so I don’t know how to link that here. http://www.kathicaseypilates.com/en/kathis_blog/
Did that newsletter cite any peer reviewed sources? Hair loss due to milk consumption sounds like bunk without an allergy present. Is the article claiming that hormones cows are treated with cause hormone imbalance in people? I would be interested in reading those sources.
I’d try vitamin D3 and magnesium citrate to help your hair loss. Google it.
I just started myself vitamins called biotin. I take 10000mcg = 10mg daily with glass of water/or milk. After 4 day I stopped shedding as much as I did before, I can count all the hair that falls out throughout the day up to 50, as before just one side brush was a dark handful. I will keep taking it for the next couple years to get the hair that i lost back and keep the ones that stayed. Google it Biotin..
I don’t know what this has to do with color catchers, but you might be getting too much selenium. It’s worth a look at your vitamins/hair products to see if they include selenium and maybe try a brand that doesn’t have that for a few weeks.
Also, too much zinc either as supplements or in your diet can contribute to hair loss.
Hi. I have just been diagnosed with Alopecia in the last year. I was going in for Cortisone injections into the scalp where ever there was a loss of hair ( I was having big chunks fall out overnight in different areas) and the hair would grow back, I know this does not happen to everyone, but I stopped the injections which were painful to see how I would do and I started taking Biotin, which is a vitamin and Vitamin D along with a prenatal vitamin. Since starting these, I have had very minimal hair loss and what has fallen out has regrown. I don’t know if these really do help or just coincidence but it doesn’t hurt.
Have your vitamin D levels tested. Low Vit D causes hair loss.
alopecia is not the same as a vitamin deficiency. alopecia can be treated with topical steroid treatments and if those fail, injections. people who suffer from alopecia areata are suffering from patches of bald spots while others can lose their whole head of hair. vitamins or lack there of are not the cause.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alopecia
Sabita, you may want to try coconut oil for your hair loss. I’ve recently started using it for my dry, over-processed hair, and it has worked wonders! It has make it unbelievably soft, and thicker in appearance. Articles I have read claim that it also helps with re-growth…. it may be worth looking in to for you, as it is fairly in-expensive. Since I have only been using it about 2 weeks, I can’t attest to it’s “re-growth” powers… but so far, I am a believer in it’s conditioning and strengthening abilities. I’ve included a link for you to check out, but any google search for coconut oil and hair loss will give you information.
http://www.dailyglow.com/askquestion/coconut-oil-hair-loss-does-application-of-coconut-
Wahing your hair with Castile soap reduces hair loss. I use it, just for normal hair loss. Maybe it would work for you too
Use a comb instead of a brush always. Brushes actually are very bad for your hair they pull it out. (Always comb from bottom to top) Also don’t use a lot of heat (iron, dryer, exc.) biotin is great to use it is in prenatal vitamins as well. I am loosing my hair as well. I also try to comb my hair 3 times a day. Don’t wear hats or anything that can cause your scalp not to get oxygen. Using tea tree does help because it is a great cleanser for your scalp. If you use a lot of hair spray and gunk make sure you wash your hair nightly and once a week use a daily clarifying shampoo (suave makes one) make sure that you use a good conditioner because the clarifying removes everything from your hair. I have been doing scalp massages at night. (you can basically use anything like the vibrating back massagers) I bought a scalp massager for like $3 at bed bath and beyond, I do it nightly. I personally have noticed since I have been using Mane and Tail Shampoo and Conditioner my hair is gradually getting longer and thicker. I also bought a spray bottle and put the conditioner in and water an use it as a leave in conditioner. Best of Luck- Remember Stress can do it as well… Use aroma therapy at night to help you relax.
(I am also a cosmetologist which is where I have learned a lot)
what kind of fabric did you use for the color catchers it looks just like the real ones? thanks tenny
Is there a post somewhere about the adorably awesome curtains you have in your laundry room? I want them!
http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/05/shabby-chic-rag-valance.html
She made a post about this a while ago.
Thanks Erica! :-)
Thanks for asking that, Mandy. I was wondering the same thing. As a new subscriber, I had no idea she had already shared it.
You can also use about a cup of salt to keep colors from running in a like-color load. I do this when we get new clothes at Christmas and I am washing dark’s together so they won’t “share” their colors with each other. It has worked every time!! I have never mixed whites and colors before so this little trick will be good to know!! :)
Hi,
I buy the Shout Color Catchers all the time because I am a quiter. They aren’t cheap, either! Thanks for this brilliant post. ~! One More Thing I’ll have to try!
Mary Malone
Hmm- I wonder if it works on a front loader since the clothes don’t really sit in water. Will have to give it a try.
I have a front load washer and I love the color catchers. Works great. My washer is so big that it’s easier to throw all my dirty stuff lights/darks/towels in one load every other day with a color catcher. I definitely need to try making my own.
I can tell you that colors will mix in a front loader, even though the clothes don’t really sit in the water. I did a lot of mixed loads this summer while I was stuck at my mother’s house taking care of her after an accident, and mine and my daughter’s undies got quite discolored during those three months! I really, really wished for some of the color catchers.
When re-using the cloths, do they need to be bleached to get rid of previously picked up colors before resoaking/re-using them?
If you choose to bleach the cloths then I suggest you use hydrogen peroxide 35% used for hair bleaching. It breaks down into water and oxygen. All other bleaches are toxic and harmful for the environment.
I just used a front loading washer while on vacation, and put in a new Color Catcher. When I took the clothes out, I could see that the “catcher” had been pushed against the front, and sort of folded, instead of floating all around the clothes, like my top loader at home. The color (in this case, pink) was only in the folds. The color catchers I have used at home, area 100% of the time, evenly colored with the dye they suck up. I thought “reason about 25, now, why I never want a front loading washer!”
Did you wash the red and white towels in warm water? Just wondering of I’d have to use cold, which doesn’t seem to clean as well. Thanks!
Claire, I actually used HOT water (good question!) just to give it a real good challenge. :-)
I’ve used the Color Catchers since the week they came out, and always use the hottest water I can. I learned, along the way, that you can cut them in half and get just as good results, as with a whole sheet. However, once they are brightly saturated, I toss. Maybe three loads, and I always fish them out of the clean clothes and just put them back into the washer, where they air dry. I do NOT dry them, as that seems to kill the “finish”, and now I know why :))
You always seem to answer my un-posted questions! How DO you do that??!! I’m buying washing soda today, having just purchased a new batch of white t-shirts for youngest son. Thanks, Jillee.
Okay, I use color catchers like crazy and even give talks to women’s meetings about time management and how I use these to save time. I will bookmark this page and continue to mull over your ‘recipe’ until I get the courage to try this. Kudos for being brave enough to experiment on your own clothes!
This is a fantastic idea!!! I’m about out of the color catchers but too cheap to buy more! What type of felt did you use? Was it the thin felt (usually really cheap at Michael’s) or another type? I would love to know your method for reusing these to save even more money! *cheers*
You can make your own washing soda by baking everyday baking soda at 400 degrees until it becomes opaque and grainy. It’s simple and you can make as much or as little as you need at a time. Comes in handy when your making homemade soaps and cleaners.
You said you liked things that grandmas teach us. Your going to love me, I was raised by my grandmother until I was a teen. I can make homemade Biore` strips using beaten egg whites and tissue paper and I guarantee they work as well or better than the store bought ones, and just so the yolk doesn’t go to waste beat it with two to three tablespoons of warm olive oil and massage through your hair. Leave for 10 minutes, wash as usual, you’ll notice an immediate difference in texture and shine.
Wow, thanks for the info Shawn. Do you have a blog site?
It’s that simple, huh?
Wow, it really ticks me off that I’ve been spending $4 a box on those!@#%!
Thanks for answering my question, Jillee, and doing all this great research!
SO awesome that this blog post came when it did since I had color catchers on my shopping list for the first time. As someone else mentioned about using color catchers when quilting, I am a new quilter and am just about finished with my first quilt so my teacher said to get a box of Shout! color catchers and use three or four each time washing the quilt for the first couple of times. Now, I’ve got a much easier and seemingly eco- and pocket-friendly solution.
Thank you so much for ALL your posts but especially for this one!
J.
Yeasrs abo I bought a color catcher cloth and it lasted for many washings. Then I could not find it at the store any longer, but they came out with the disposable sheets. I did nto buy them but wondered if they lasted more than one wash. I did not like the “trash” the disposible ones contributed to the land fills, I like your idea and will give it a try. I am sure the companies make more money with the sheets than the original cloth I bought 20 years ago.
The one place that I have seen that you can still find the reusable ones are at Joann Fabrics. They sell them between the irons and notions.
Wal-Mart also sells the Carbona re-usable one. It says it’s only good for about 30 washes, so now I’m going to soak it in this solution to see if that lengthens its life!
By the way – I just called my local Walmart and they have white felt on the bolt for $3.97/yd. Imagine all the catching cloths you can cut out of a yard and even if you only get two to three “dunks and dries” per cloth, that’s a great bargain!
I just wonder now if I should launder the felt before I treat it with the solution? Any thoughts?
Hi Julie Ann,
I sew a good bit and have found it best to ALWAYS wash ANY fabric before I do anything with it. Alot of fabric is stored in warehouses for extended periods and is NOT packed air-tight…I will just let your imagination fill in the rest…Also, many fabrics are treated with chemicals during and after manufacturing – these should ALWAYS be washed away before use…Hope this helps!!
Another reason for washing the fabric before using it, is that some fabrics (not as many now) will shrink. If you was it before using, then you have “pre-shrunk” it, so that it won’t (or not as likely – some denims continue to shrink almost forever) shrink after you have made your article (clothes, quilt, whatever). You can also then see how well it washes before you go to the trouble of making whatever.
I occasionally use the Shout Color Catchers but always cut them in half and they still seem to work just fine, but these homemade ones are surely more economical!
I do wonder, though, if using the homemade laundry detergent that includes washing soda, is adding a color catcher really necessary? Any thoughts?
I would suggest that it probably is still necessary. The washing soda doesn’t neutralise the dyes, it only captures them and makes them stick to the cloth. You still need the cloth to absord them.
Is a cup of water enough to treat a whole yard of fabric? Want to get this right.
Jillee, you are a genius! Is there anything you can’t figure out? I just figured out that your own eBooks can be sold on Amazon. Why don’t you put all these tips together and write an ebook? Then people will have them all in one place. You can get $10 a piece for kindle books. I would like to figure out how to make some beauty products. I guess I could mix the rubbery pore cleaner with some other things. I am also thinking about a cuticle cream. Just need the time. I have had two packages of Rit dye remover in my laundry rooms for years. Someone always mixes up the laundry and you need to whiten up a load. I do have these dye sheets, but now I’. making my own, thanks to you. Ann
Thanks Ann! I’m so glad you like the tips. :-) Just an FYI….I am currently working on a book/ebook, a yearbook of One Good Thing By Jillee posts! Look for it within the coming months! Thanks for asking. And thanks for the support! ;-)
That is great news! I just very recently found your blog, but have been thinking how handy it would be to have a book of all these amazing ideas! My husband thinks I’ve gone crazy– making my own laundry detergent and whatnot. :]
I’d heartily suggest that if possible you make a paper-version of the book, for those of us non-kindle readers.
Oh, I don’t think anyone asked this yet, but how big do the color catchers need to be? I cut mine to baby wipe size or so…
Book! Book! Book! Yes I know, we could just print out our favourite recipes…BUT I would MUCH rather show my support and thanks to you, Jillee for everything you’ve done! I would want to give a book to my mom and children, with YOUR name on the cover, not some computer print-out. If I AM going to spend money, I want it to be in support of all your work, and as a way of saying thanks. :) I believe in giving credit where credit is due…so if you ever start a book sign up list…I’ll be on it!!!
Thanks for this, Jillee! I’ve seen the color catcher commercials for awhile now, but I’ve always been skeptical about them. I just couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that this one little dinky piece of fabric somehow absorbed all the running colors in the wash. But, your test with the brand-new washcloths has me intrigued. I might have to try these!
I am so excited to see this post! I definitely had these on my shopping list for a few weeks, but kept waiting for a sale and/or coupon because I hate that they are so expensive. I also had washing soda on my list for homemade laundry detergent, but thanks to these comments I remembered you could make it from baking soda (which I have plenty of). Yay!
I was wondering if you would be able to use coffee filters for this DIY color catcher. I know you can use them with DIY fabric softener.
I really don’t think so! The fabric softeners go in the dryer. They are not washed. I would think that they would come all to pieces if put in the washer! They are paper after all!
Never thought about using them for the fabric softener. But then, I’d rater use an old rag, or at least cloth, so as not to be throwing it away. (Tho if it works, you could use it a few times, but it would still have to go to the trash eventually.)
Just my thoughts.
Jillee – I LOVE your blog – I’ve made a few things, my personal favorite being the shaving cream which I use even when I’m not shaving sometimes as its faster than putting on lotion after :-) I use color catchers all the time so will have to try this post too.
When I was reading it I thought ‘hmm, I’m sure I’ve read about washing soda before’. Would it be possible to categorize your blog post by product used? Just the most popular ones ie Dawn/essential oils/vinegar etc. I love to save money, and I love the idea of buying a product to make two or three cool things rather than just one!
Keep up the good work!
Great info! I use the color catcher sheets for my quilting fabrics, and am eager to make my own.
Especially appreciate the tip to look for “washing soda” at the hardware store in the pool sections as “soda ash”! Many cleaning formulas I’d like to try call for “washing soda” and have shopped all over town for it, without success (even at WalMart)… I do have plenty of baking soda, but it’s too steamy to run my oven at 400 for even a minute this time of year.
Aldine, that’s a great idea to use coffee filters! I have a box of wrong-size ones in the pantry, am gonna try them.
I was thinking if I squeeze the liquid out of a plastic container of baby wipes .. mix ” 2 tbl” washing soda and 1 cup hot water .. replace the baby wipes .. then pour the mixture into the box .. pull 1 out as needed.
I’m curious…did that work?
THANK YOU! I hate washing my kitchen throw rugs because they bleed all over anything else. They are small so washing them alone irks me, although I do do it when they are in need. The disposable ones were on my list of “Ridiculous Things I Will Not Waste Money ON” as I couldn’t imagine they’d work. But we all know that if Jillee says it works, it’s worth a shot. And what is there to lose when I have all the products on hand? Hmm… wonder what those rugs are looking like…
Only this site can get me excited about doing laundry lol.
FYI: instead of felt, I’m thinking an old white cotton t-shirt would do the trick just as well, and who doesn’t have one of those laying around? And if you already have WS (or BS and make your own WS) on hand, the price for color catchers becomes essentially nothing. I might do a little happy dance….
Haha this may please my fiance when I decide to throw things in the wash without separating. Now I CAN without irritating her :D Btw, I’m curious if you have any wedding-related money savers you’ve posted before? I’ve been reading your blog for a good year (I think). And I’m in love with your window shades. SO CUTE. I’ll be making one as soon as I get scissors that actually cut fabric.
i am curious to know your opinion on using white fabric in the wash with washing soda in it that the color would collect on the white fabric ???
Thanks for the tip! How about a homemade version of the Downy Wrinkle Release? I love that stuff, don’t think it’s very good enviromentally though and gets pricey too.
Is this what you were thinking of Jeanne?
http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/03/diy-wrinkle-release-spray.html
Wonderful! And so simple. I wondered what it was that made those color catchers work. THANKS for always giving us the best of the best.
Can Arm N’ Hammer Super Washing Soda be used? Is it the same as soda ash? Or is it more like baking soda? I just looked at the box of it on my dryer but all it says is “contains sodium bicarbonate.” Thanks!
That is what Jillee used (see her pics). The soda ash for pools (etc) is just an option.
That is what most people are talking about looking for or using in this thread. You’ve got it!! :>)
I love your curtains, behind the drying clothes. I would love some info on those. They would be great in my daughters room.
I reuse the color catchers that I buy, I use them until they fall apart and they seem to catch the color over and over. Just my 2 cents. Thanks for the recipe!
Thanks!
Thanks so much for the cost saving recipe! I use those color catchers daily! One tip…when you’re finished w/ the color catcher, they make cool additions for crafting!
Thanks again!
Angela
I have to admit, I only scanned the article and “read” the pictures–and what REALLY caught my eye was the “curtains” made with fabric strips. GORGEOUS!
Bake baking soda at 200F and it becomes washing soda!! So easy, and the different is visible! Baking soda is crystals and reflect light, once baked it becomes dull in appearance and powdery.
Handy to know when it’s something sooo simple :)
I absolutely LOVE this! A guy at work was talking about these, and I told him you could make your own, he scoffed and challenged me to prove it. I knew it could be done, just couldn’t find WHERE. Thank you!!!! Now I can go rub it in his smug face.
I still haven’t seen the questioned answered about how to re-use….are these one-time use, then re-soak or can it be used again?
Thanks for this post!
You don’t need to turn on the oven to make washing soda from baking soda. Just heat it in a dry saucepan on the stovetop, (with the exhaust fan on). I stir it occasionally as it heats, but doing so may not be necessary. It’s also kinda fun to watch the carbon dioxide escape during the process.
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I have plenty of washing soda because sometimes I make my own laundry detergent and it is one of the ingredients! Thanks for the How too!
Thanks for the info, tried this using all the above info and doesn’t seem to work for me, what have I done wrong, I used a pure fabric as well as a non woven fabric, both didn’t work… Any suggestions?
I use the washing soda to make my own laundry soap, so wonder if these will still work??
Can anyone pls confirm if this worked? Thanks