setting colors

Q:  I received my pads yesterday and they look great!  I can’t believe how soft and trim they are.  I do have one question about washing.  I read on your site about setting the colors with vinegar or salt.  Is that something I should do with the pads?  If so, do you include the vinegar or salt with the detergent and does the water temperature matter?

A:  I definitely recommend setting the colors for any vibrants (though I do it for all new colored cotton fabrics).  All you need to do is place the pads in a bucket and put in 1 cup of vinegar and then top with cold water to cover the pads.  Stir them up gently and let them sit for a bit (usually about 20 to 30 minutes…just so that the vinegar water can soak through all the pads really well).  Then just rinse in cold water and wash as per usual.  This only needs to be done the once and should prevent most of any color leaching.