How do I remove dye bleeding from laundry and fix ruined clothes? Pink seems to be the most dreaded color to find on white underwear when a red sock gets mixed in; but I’ve also seen whites turned blue or gray depending on what accidentally gets mixed into the white load.
These stain removal techniques will also work if the dye bleed is on a colored fabric. Just remember to use oxygen-based bleach - NOT chlorine bleach!
The first thing to do is find the culprit and pull it out. Then rewash all the whites using a nonchlorine bleach or a cup of white distilled vinegar in addition to your regular laundry detergent. Do this BEFORE you put the clothes in the dryer.
If you have already dried the clothing or the dye transfer is heavy, you will need to take time to soak the clothing before rewashing. Mix a solution of oxygen-based bleach (Clorox 2, OxiClean or Tide Stain Release) and warm water following the package directions. Submerge the stained items and allow them to soak for 8 hours. Check the clothes and if the dye stains are gone, wash as usual. If they remain, soak for another 8 hours with a fresh solution and then wash.
Use the same oxygen-based bleach soak for colored clothes that have dye transfer from other clothes or within the fabric pattern.
This is why clothes should be sorted correctly. Just because something hasn’t faded before doesn’t mean it never will. Sometimes it takes several washings before dyes begin to wash out and cling to the unsuspecting!
Specific questions? Just ask here.
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