Which colours hide stains, dust and lint?

What each colour shows

A mark is visible when it differs from the cloth in lightness or colour. Dark marks show on light cloth, light marks on dark cloth, and a mid-tone sits in the middle, where most marks differ from it least.

• White and ivory: tea, coffee, turmeric, curry, make-up on the neckline and, over time, yellowing at the underarms.
• Pastels: much the same as white, and water can leave faint rings on some finishes.
• Black, navy and very dark shades: flour, powder, deodorant, toothpaste, dust, lint and pet hair, plus pale salt lines from dried sweat.
• Plain mid grey and light blue: sweat and water darken them noticeably while damp.
• Mid-tones such as olive, rust, teal, taupe, maroon and mid blue: the most forgiving plain colours for both light and dark marks.
• Oil on any plain colour: it darkens the cloth into a see-through spot, so it shows on most plain shades; prints hide it far better.

Why prints and textures hide more

The eye finds a stain because it breaks an even surface. Give it an uneven surface and the stain has somewhere to hide. Dense, multicoloured prints work best of all, especially on a mid or darker ground, because a splash simply joins the pattern. Large, widely spaced motifs on a plain ground help less, since the bare areas between them behave like plain cloth.

Texture does a similar job more quietly. Slub cottons, heathered or melange yarns and self patterns break up the light, so small marks and lint are harder to see. Our guide to dobby, slub and textured cottons describes these fabrics, and the print types guide explains why some prints look more mottled than others.

Choosing colours for cooking days and everyday suits

For kitchen days, the biggest problem is usually turmeric, which leaves a bright yellow mark that is hard to shift from white and pastels. Mustard, ochre, rust and brown prints hide it best, and a print with some yellow already in it hides it completely. Keep the pale piece of an outfit to the dupatta, which you can take off before you start cooking.

For everyday suits worn to work, the school run or errands, a mid-tone plain or a small all-over print in two or three colours is the easy choice. If you love black or navy for work, a fabric with a little texture shows lint less than a smooth, flat weave. For a whole wardrobe planned this way, our capsule wardrobe guide shows how a few forgiving colours go a long way.

When marks happen anyway

Colour only hides a mark; it does not remove it. Treat spills quickly and gently, and see our guide to removing common stains from lawn and cotton, always following the care label and testing on a hidden area first.

If you are planning new everyday outfits, Fabric + Stitching lets you choose a forgiving colour or print from the start. Mention that the outfit is for daily wear and which marks worry you, and ask for a quote; the fabric and colour are agreed in your written quote before cutting.