Are you tired of watching your favorite Ankara outfits lose their brightness after just a few washes? You’re not alone! As a proud Nigerian, I understand how heartbreaking it can be to see those bold, eye-catching patterns fade away. But don’t worry, with the right laundry techniques, your Ankara can stay as bright as the day you bought it from the market.
In this guide, I’m going to be showing you how to keep Ankara bright and fresh without spending a fortune or losing your mind. So, if this is what you’ve been searching for, continue reading to the end.
Understanding Why Your Ankara Needs Special Care
Before we jump into the how-to stuff, let’s talk about why your Ankara deserves extra care. This isn’t just any random fabric from the market, right?
Your Ankara tells a story – our story. Every time you rock those beautiful patterns, you’re carrying a piece of our culture. Think about it, when you show up to an event in bright, well-maintained Ankara, people notice!
It’s like walking around with a piece of art that says ‘proud Nigerian right here!’ Those colors aren’t just pretty, they’re powerful. When they fade, it’s like turning down the volume on your cultural statement.
Why Your Ankara Keeps Losing Its Brightness
Let’s face it, Nigerian life presents unique challenges for fabric care. From dusty harmattan to intense sunshine, our climate can be tough on clothes. Add to that the many laundry detergents that cause our clothes to fade due to the excess chemicals in them. It’s no wonder maintaining brightness can feel like an uphill battle.
But not to worry, you’re going to learn how to keep Ankara bright and preserve its colours from fading in the following paragraphs.
How To Keep Ankara Bright: Essential Laundry Tips
Just like you can’t build a house without a good foundation, you can’t keep Ankara bright without proper preparation. Taking these steps before washing makes all the difference.
Sorting Your Ankara by Color and Fabric Type
I know it’s tempting to throw everything in one basin or in the washing machine, especially when water is scarce. But mixing your bright red Ankara with your yellow or green pieces is like inviting trouble to your wardrobe. Make sure that you sort your Ankara carefully:
- Separate by colours (bright with bright, dark with dark)
- Keep new and unwashed Ankara separate for the first 2-3 washes
- Identify and separate any pieces with metallic threads or embellishments
Testing for Colorfastness
Have you ever had one Ankara piece “bleed” onto another? Heartbreaking, right? A quick colorfastness test can save you from this disaster. A colorfastness test will determine if your Ankara Fabric will fade or retain its colour after washing. So, try the method below to check if your Ankara will fade or not:
The Cotton Swab Method
This is one of the easiest ways I use at home to check for colour fastness.
- Take a white cotton swab, soak it a bit with water.
- Gently rub it on any hidden part of your Ankara that won’t be visible in case of fading.
- If colour transfers to the cotton or swab, your Ankara fabric will likely bleed or fade during laundry. These pieces need special handling, so you’ll have to wash them separately.
Hand Washing vs. Machine Washing: Which is Better for Ankara?
This is where opinions get heated, just like arguments about which jollof is better (Nigerian, obviously). Although, both methods can work if you do the right thing carefully.
Hand Washing Ankara
I won’t lie, hand washing takes more effort but nothing beats the gentle touch of your hands on your Ankara if you want it to retain its brightness. Hand washing your Ankara gives you control over every step because you’d know not to scrub too hard and wash only the parts that are dirty.
Machine Washing
Let’s be realistic, sometimes our busy lifestyle and schedule won’t allow us to wash our clothes with our hands. So, if you must use a machine, here’s how to minimize damage on your Ankara fabric:
- Use the gentle or delicate cycle
- Opt for cold water only
- Turn your Ankara inside out before washing
- Never overload the machine – your Ankara needs room to move freely
Detergent Selection: What Works Best for Ankara
The market is flooded with different detergents, but not all are friends to your Ankara collection. Chemical detergents might seem powerful, but they can be harsh on Ankara dyes. Natural alternatives are often gentler.
Always be on the lookout for detergents labeled ‘color-safe’ or ‘for bright colors.’ Avoid using bleach on your Ankara at all costs. Bleach is like a poison to your beautiful patterns!
Local Solutions on How To Keep Ankara Bright
Our grandmothers kept their fabrics bright and long-lasting before any fancy imported detergents hit the market. Consider using any of the options below to preserve the colour of your Ankara Fabric:
- A cup of white vinegar in the final rinse water
- A tablespoon of salt in wash water can prevent color bleeding or fading
- Omo or Good Mama detergents in very small quantities is what your Ankara needs. You don’t have to use large quantities of detergents.
How to Dry Ankara to Preserve Color and Prevent Fading
How you dry your Ankara is just as important as how you wash it.
Sun Drying
Our Nigerian sunshine is both a blessing and a curse. Sure, it dries your Ankara in minutes, but direct sunlight will fade your Ankara faster than you can think. A little indirect heat is perfect, but too much direct heat will cause your Ankara to lose its brightness.
Always hang your Ankara in the shade, turn them inside-out, to protect those beautiful patterns and colours.
Indoor Drying
This is arguably the best way to dry your Ankara to prevent fading. During the rainy season, indoor drying becomes necessary. Hang your Ankara on plastic hangers (metal can rust and stain), away from fluorescent lights (which can also cause fading).
Also, make sure there’s good air circulation to prevent musty odours from sticking to your Ankara.
Ironing and Pressing Your Ankara to Perfection
Proper ironing not only makes your Ankara look sharp but can actually help maintain its colour brightness. Whatever type of Ankara that you have, make sure that you always iron them on low heat. This is because of the texture of the material and helps preserve the brightness of the fabric.
Iron your Ankara while it is still a bit wet for best results, and remember, ironing your Ankara fabric too frequently can eventually affect colours, so save it for when you actually plan to wear the fabric.
How to Store Your Ankara To Prevent Fading
Even perfect washing means nothing if you store your Ankara poorly. Hanging is better than folding when possible and for long-term storage, wrap the Ankara in old cotton sheets rather than plastic, which can trap moisture and cause mildew in our humid Nigerian climate.
Final Words
Remember, a little extra care during laundry day means your Ankara will stay bright enough to turn heads at the next owambe. Your grandmother would be proud to see you rocking brilliantly preserved patterns that reflect our colorful heritage!
Isn’t it worth a few extra minutes of careful washing to keep your Ankara making statements as bold as Nigeria itself?
Our professional laundry service is here to help! We understand how much it takes to keep Ankara bright and know exactly how to do it.
Book our service today and say goodbye to your laundry worries!
