Colour catchers are disposable laundry sheets that absorb loose dye in the wash, preventing colour transfer between items.
How They Work
The sheet contains dye-trapping fibres that:
- Attract loose dye molecules
- Absorb before they redeposit
- Prevent colour bleeding onto other items
When to Use
New towels: May release excess dye in first washes.
Mixed loads: Washing lights and darks together.
Unknown items: Unsure of colour fastness.
For Towels
Useful when:
- Washing brand new coloured towels
- Mixing towel colours
- First few washes of dark/bright towels
After several washes, quality towels shouldn't need them.
Effectiveness
Colour catchers work but aren't magic:
- Help with minor bleeding
- Can't save a massively bleeding item
- Don't guarantee safety with very unstable dyes
Brands
Shout Color Catcher, Dylon Colour Catcher, store brands.
Related Terms
- Colour fastness - What quality towels have
- Reactive dye - Stable dye type