Cleaning enthusiast and TikTok creator Chantel Mila, known as Mama Mila, has shared an unexpected natural bathroom product she adds to the washing machine to stop new dark clothing from fading: one cup of Epsom salt placed in the drum before a standard wash cycle.
Mila's technique is intended only for new dark-coloured garments. She maintains that the Epsom salts prevent the colour from fading during washing.
What cleaning experts say about Epsom salt in laundry
Some cleaning enthusiasts believe the magnesium sulphate in Epsom salt secures loose dye molecules within fabric fibres while washing, stopping them from leaching out. It is also thought to soften hard water by attaching to minerals, which may prevent soap scum and detergent build-up from dulling colours.
However, specialists at Humble Suds dispute these claims. They said: "Salt is often touted as a natural cleaning agent because of its abrasive texture and moisture-absorbing properties. Epsom salt (magnesium sulphate) is frequently recommended as a fabric softener in DIY laundry recipes. However, these claims don't hold up under scientific scrutiny."
They added: "In fact, adding salt - whether table salt, sea salt, or Epsom salt - can interfere with detergent performance, damage your washing machine, and even shorten the lifespan of your clothes."
Potential damage to fabrics and the machine
Humble Suds explained that the magnesium in Epsom salts can deposit residue onto fabrics, making them more rigid, and that salt use may cause blockages inside the machine. They also noted: "All types of salt, including Epsom salt, have desiccant properties, meaning they draw moisture out of fabrics. Over time, this weakens the fibres, making them prone to wear and tear. Salt's abrasive texture can also cause micro-tears, particularly in delicate fabrics, leading to premature aging of your clothes."
They warned that salt can accelerate colour fading, especially for darker or vibrant fabrics, because it strips moisture, including the dyes that keep colours rich.
Testing the Epsom salt method
House Digest tested the method and reported mixed results: "The Epsom salt load wasn't terrible, but I'm not sold either. The laundry smelled reasonably fresh, but both the duvet and towel felt slightly stiff, almost like they needed one more rinse cycle prior to drying."
They added: "The towel edges in particular had a crunchy stiffness that made me second-guess all those DIY fabric softener claims I kept finding online. I couldn't tell a difference in terms of brightness between the two methods, and when I solicited a second opinion from a family member, he couldn't either."
