• Keep your heavy metal shirts looking good with correct laundry procedures.heavy-metal image by Valua Vitaly from Fotolia.com
  
  If you've been listening to heavy metal since before Black Sabbath kicked out Ozzy Osbourne or if you just got into the metal lifestyle, your concert-going clothes will probably consist of all black T-shirts. Heavy metal shirts take a lot of punishment, from sweat stains to spilled beer, and that takes special laundry care to keep them looking fresh. Take the extra steps to keep your shirts from fading to gray, and you'll keep your metal edge for the next show.
  
  

Hand Washing

• One of the main reasons black clothes fade in the laundry is the fabric being agitated in a washing machine. Fabrics rub against each other, causing them to lose color. Wash your metal shirts by hand in a sink full of cold water to help keep the black dye fresh.
  
  

The Right Detergent

• Some laundry detergents leach dye from clothing because of their chemical makeup. Use a detergent specially made for black clothes, like Woolite Dark or Cheer Dark. These products are made so that the dyes stay in your clothing longer, helping to keep your metal shirts from turning gray.
  
  

Hang Them Dry

• If clothes fade because of the agitation in the washer, the process is repeated in the dryer. Hang your metal shirts up to dry instead of tossing them in a clothes dryer. It may take longer, but your shirts will last longer because of it. Always hang the shirts out of the reach of the sun, as sunlight fades clothing.
  
  

Freshen Up the Look

• No matter how much care you take, the darkest blacks will eventually start to fade to a dark gray. Turn your shirts inside out and soak them in black fabric dye every 10 washes. Commercial fabric dyes are very simple to use and will turn your metal concert shirts deep black again. Follow the directions on the package when dying and remember to keep the shirts out of the sun when they are drying.