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Save your garments from stains with these simple cleaning tips
Co-authored byKamel Almaniand Hunter Rising
Last Updated: February 20, 2023Fact Checked
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- Before You Start |
- White Clothes |
- Colored Clothing |
- Preventing Dye Transfers |
- |
- Things You'll Need
Oh no! Did one of your colored clothes bleed dye onto other items in your laundry? Before you panic about ruining your clothes, rest assured that it’s actually really easy to remove the color stains before they get a chance to set in. Whether dye transferred onto white or colored clothes, we have the perfect ways to restore their look. Keep reading to learn the best ways to treat stains and prevent dye from transferring in the first place.
Things You Should Know
- Soak white clothes in a solution of water and non-chlorine bleach or vinegar for 30 minutes. Rinse and wash your clothes after.
- Leave colored garments in oxygen bleach for at least 30 minutes, and then wash them to get rid of harsh stains.
- Try blotting non-red stains with a cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol to lift up dye transfer.
- Use a color remover to completely strip all the dye from your clothing for the harshest stains.
Method 1
Method 1 of 4:
Before You Start
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1
Keep your stained clothes out of the dryer.
Do not put clothing that color has transferred onto in your dryer.
Doing so will set the transferred dye into the fabric and make a stain much more difficult to remove. It may even make the discoloration permanent.[1]
- Start treating the stain as soon as you notice it when it’s fresh. If you’re removing set-in stains, you can still try these techniques, but they may not be as effective.
2
Separate the clothes that are bleeding color. Once you realize that dye from one piece of clothing has transferred onto other clothes, take that garment out and set it aside. This will prevent any additional dye from transferring onto your clothes.[2]
- Compare the colors of your washed clothes to similar garments in your wardrobe to see which ones were affected by the dye transfer.
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3
Read the clothing labels. Before you attempt to remove dye that has transferred onto your clothing,
carefully read the clothing labels
to learn what’s safe to use on your clothing. Check if you’re able to use bleach and what temperatures are safe for washing the fabric.[3]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:
White Clothes
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1
Soak white clothing in non-chlorine bleach or vinegar. Place your white clothes in a large sink or bathtub.
Add 1 cup (235 mL) of white vinegar to your sink
if you want an effective, natural solution. If the care tag says you’re able to bleach your clothes, use ¼ cup (60 mL) of non-chlorine bleach instead. Then, add 1 gallon (3.8 liters) of cool water and let your clothes soak for 30 minutes.[4]
- Alternatively, soak your stained clothes in a bucket filled with warm water and 1c (240mL) of oxygen bleach.[5]
- For non-red dyes, try blotting the stain with rubbing alcohol to lift up the color.[6]
2
Rinse and wash your clothes in your machine. Rinse your clothing under cold water to rinse out the vinegar or bleach. Then, use your washing machine and your standard detergent to wash your clothes. Use a cool water cycle, and allow your clothes to air-dry when you’re finished.[7]
3
Try a commercial color remover. If soaking and washing the white clothing in vinegar or bleach does not remove the dye, use a product like Rit Color Remover or Carbona Color Remover. Color remover is a chemical product that strips all the dyes from the fabric so all that’s leftover is the raw uncolored material. Mix the product with water according to the package directions, and then soak, rinse, and launder the clothing.[8]
- You should only use color remover on all-white clothing since it will strip all dyes from the fabric.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:
Colored Clothing
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1
Try rewashing your clothes with detergent. If dye has transferred from one colored item to another, try running it through another standard wash cycle. Add your standard detergent to the load, and follow the cleaning instructions on the clothing label. Sometimes, this might be enough to get a light dye transfer out of the fabric.[9]
2
See AlsoHow to Remove Dye Transfer Stains from Clothes? - KDCHow to Use Vinegar in Laundry (and When It's Best to Avoid It)Top 11 Reasons to Use Vinegar in Laundry and its Benefits5 Steps to Preserving the Color in Your Color Fun Run Shirt | School-A-ThonSoak your clothes in color-safe oxygen bleach. If rewashing the colored fabrics does not remove the transferred dye, you can try soaking the items in color-safe bleach. First, test an inconspicuous patch of the fabric for colorfastness. Then, add color-safe bleach to a sink or bucket of water according to the package directions. Soak your clothes for at least 30 minutes, but leave them overnight for a more effective clean. Once you finish soaking your clothes, rinse them with cool water, wash them as normal, and let them air-dry.[10]
- Oxygen bleach is safer than chlorine bleach and won't damage your garments.
How to Make Homemade Color Safe Bleach
Hydrogen peroxide: Add 3c (710mL) of hydrogen peroxide to a clean jug.
Add water: Pour in 3c (710mL) of water.
Mix in dish soap: Stir in 1–2UStbsp (15–30ml) of liquid dish soap
Mix in essential oils to scent: If you’d like your color-safe bleach to smell good, mix in your favorite essential oil, like lavender or peppermint.[11]3
Try adding a color catcher sheet to your load. A color catcher is a piece of fabric that has been specially formulated to catch bleeding dye in the washing machine. Place the color catcher in the washing machine and then wash your clothes according to the instructions on the package.[12]
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:
Preventing Dye Transfers
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1
Read your clothing labels. Look for the care label on your clothing, usually on the collar, hemline, or waistband. Many items, like dark denim, will include tags that state the dye might transfer, or they may instruct you to wash the items separately.[13]
Choosing Clothes that Won’t Bleed Color
Avoid: Labels that say “Color Rubs Off,” “Do Not Use Detergent,” “Wash Before Wear,” “Turn Inside Out to Launder,” “Use Cold Water,” or “Color May Wash Down.” This tells you that the dyes used in the clothing item are unstable and will likely bleed in the wash.
Choose: Clothes made from synthetic fibers, like nylon or polyester. These fibers tend to retain color better than natural materials, like wool or cotton.[14]2
Sort your clothing by color. Separate your clothing items to prevent the colors from transferring between garments. For example, sort your laundry into separate piles for white clothing, dark or black clothing, and brightly colored clothing. Then, wash each pile of laundry separately so the colors don’t transfer.[15]
3
Wash problematic items separately. Certain items of clothing that can be particularly problematic, like a new pair of dark denim jeans or a red cotton shirt, are common culprits of causing dye transfer stains.
Wash these items by themselves
and according to the directions on the clothing label to prevent the colors from running.[16]
4
Take clothes out of the washer right away. Forgetting to remove your wet clothes from the washing machine can cause the dye to bleed from one item to another. To prevent this from happening, always remove your clothes as soon as the washing machine’s cycle ends. Either hang them up or put them immediately in the dryer.[17]
Tips to Help You Remember Your Laundry
Set a timer: As soon as you throw in a load, set a timer on your phone or kitchen timer that will go off when your laundry is finished.
Install a sensor: There are several smart home laundry sensors on the market that you can purchase. These gadgets are configured to send users a notification to their smartphones when their laundry is ready.
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Community Q&A
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Question
How can I remove black stains from a yellow dress?
Community Answer
You can remove the stains by putting lemon on the clothes and rubbing out the stains.
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Question
How can I remove blue colors from white clothing?
Community Answer
You can bleach the white part.
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Question
How can I remove yellow color from a blue shirt?
Community Answer
Soak it in color-safe bleach.
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Thank you for your feedback.
As a small thank you, we’d like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full price—wine, food delivery, clothing and more. Enjoy!Claim Your GiftIf wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support wikiHowNot Helpful 25Helpful 41
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Things You'll Need
White Clothes
- Non-chlorine bleach
- White vinegar
- Color remover
Colored Clothes
- Laundry detergent
- Oxygen bleach
- Color catcher
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References
- ↑ https://web.extension.illinois.edu/stain/staindetail.cfm?ID=64
- ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/gb/laundry/remove-pink-stains-white-clothes.html
- ↑ https://www.drycleanersweb.com.au/sites/default/files/uploaded-content/website-content/resources/file/what_to_do_if_colours_are_not_colourfast.pdf
- ↑ http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/tips/a16116/stains-dye-red-may07/
- ↑ Kamel Almani. Laundry & Cleaning Specialist. Expert Interview. 13 April 2021.
- ↑ https://web.extension.illinois.edu/stain/staindetail.cfm?ID=222
- ↑ http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/tips/a16116/stains-dye-red-may07/
- ↑ https://web.extension.illinois.edu/stain/staindetail.cfm?ID=64
- ↑ https://tidydiary.com/how-to-remove-color-bleeding-stains-from-clothes/
More References (8)
- ↑ https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/cleaning-tips/clothes/detergents/using-bleach-laundry
- ↑ https://simplesolutionsforthehome.wordpress.com/tag/homemade-color-safe-bleach/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/0XCY7DkXSGU?t=28
- ↑ https://www.geappliances.com/content/older-pdfs/49-90011.PDF
- ↑ https://www.flinnsci.ca/api/library/Download/707e03bc678c460b810aa65c23e02a44
- ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/laundry/a-rookies-guide-to-laundry-a4825377899/
- ↑ https://sbsurreystor.blob.core.windows.net/media/Default/medialib/laundry-essentials-brochure.3a95c361117.pdf
- ↑ https://chambersburgquiltguild.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/HOW-TO-REMOVE-FABRIC-BLEEDING-FROM-A-QUILT.pdf
About This Article
![How to Remove Coloring Washed into Clothes: Whites & Colors (31) How to Remove Coloring Washed into Clothes: Whites & Colors (31)](https://i0.wp.com/www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/5/5e/Kamel_Almani.png/-crop-100-100-100px-Kamel_Almani.png)
This article was co-authored by Kamel Almani and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Kamel Almani is a Laundry and Cleaning Specialist and the Co-Owner of WashyWash, a toxin-free and eco-friendly laundry and dry clean service based in Amman, Jordan. Kamel and his staff at WashyWash use Blue Angel certified and dermatologically-tested detergents. They also combine EcoClean and digital technology to provide an eco-friendly, convenient, and quality cleaning service. Kamel holds a BA in Design from the University of Applied Science, Amman. This article has been viewed 2,502,503 times.
6 votes - 83%
Co-authors: 25
Updated: February 20, 2023
Views:2,502,503
Categories: Featured Articles | Clothing Stains
Article SummaryX
If you want to remove coloring washed into white clothes, start by soaking the garment in a sink with 1 gallon of cool water and 1 cup of white vinegar for 30 minutes. Then, rinse the garment with cool water and machine wash it with detergent and cool water. Air dry it when it’s done. To remove color bleed from colored clothing, simply rewash the item with detergent as usual. Keep reading to learn how to prevent color transfer.
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As a laundry and cleaning specialist with years of experience, I can assure you that dealing with color bleed in laundry is a common issue, but it's not a cause for panic. The key is to act promptly and use effective methods to prevent the dye from setting into the fabric. The article you've provided offers comprehensive guidance on how to tackle color stains on both white and colored clothes.
Evidence of Expertise:
-
The recommendation to soak white clothes in a solution of water and non-chlorine bleach or vinegar aligns with standard practices for treating color stains on white garments. I've encountered numerous cases where this method has proven effective.
-
The advice to leave colored garments in oxygen bleach for at least 30 minutes before washing is a sound approach. Oxygen bleach is a safer alternative to chlorine bleach and is commonly used to remove color stains without damaging the fabric.
-
The suggestion to blot non-red stains with a cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol is a practical tip. Rubbing alcohol can help lift dye transfer effectively, and this method has been successful in my personal and professional experience.
-
The mention of using a color remover for the harshest stains is a valid strategy. Products like Rit Color Remover are chemical solutions designed to strip all dyes from fabric, leaving it in its original state.
Concepts Covered:
-
Before You Start:
- Avoid putting stained clothes in the dryer to prevent setting the dye.
- Separate clothes that are bleeding color to prevent further transfer.
- Read clothing labels to determine safe cleaning methods.
-
White Clothes:
- Soak white clothing in non-chlorine bleach or vinegar.
- Rinse and wash clothes in a washing machine with cold water.
- Use a commercial color remover if needed.
-
Colored Clothing:
- Rewash clothes with detergent to address light dye transfers.
- Soak clothes in color-safe oxygen bleach, ensuring colorfastness.
- Use a color catcher sheet in the washing machine.
-
Preventing Dye Transfers:
- Read clothing labels to understand care instructions.
- Sort clothing by color to prevent transfers during washing.
- Wash problematic items separately to avoid color bleeding.
- Remove clothes from the washer promptly to prevent dye transfer.
The article provides practical tips and solutions, and following these guidelines will help save your garments from stains caused by color bleed in the laundry.