Laundry colour catcher sheets reuseable?

coffeehound

I've been doing all my laundry in one wash at the laundrette so I add a couple of colour-catcher sheets to keep colours from mingling. Can't help but notice the sheets usually look the same when they come out as when they went in.

Which begs the question: can these things just be reused week after week?

rach_k

I don't think so. I used to make my own and it was a solution dried onto cloths (soda crystals in hot water I think) so, assuming shop bought ones are similar, after the wash it would just be a plain cloth.

If you don't see dye on the cloth, do you actually need them? I do mixed loads all the time without them. I only separate out dark/bright things that are very new.

DeterminedSingleMummy

I reuse mine until they go dark... usually a few washes...

No idea if it's doing anything In my washes but my clothes seen fine to me lol

Xx

Annie1960

Very few things run these days with modern materials. I don't bother using these at all in my mixed washes.

The only thing to look out for is if you buy anything new with a dark colour then test it first before putting it in a mixed load.

coffeehound

Thanks. Yes I find not much colour leaks after a couple of washes but tend to include them 'just in case' as I'm forgetful. E.g. a few weeks back I absent-mindedly included a jumper that was a few months old but hadn't been washed before and the catcher sheets came out dark blue.

Think I'll go with DSM's method of using them for a few washes as that would same a few bob.

penguingirl

I've re-used them and they were fine. I don't use them routinely but used to have bedsheets that were a dark purple and white pattern that definitely needed them as the first set became ruined very quickly. My solution now is to just have white bedsheets!