How to Get Hair Dye Out of Clothes

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 15 - 30 mins
  • Total Time: 45 mins - 4 hrs
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $0

Learning how to get hair dye out of clothes is essential for those accidental stains after coloring your hair. The best way to remove hair dye stains is to treat them as fast as possible—the longer you wait, the harder it is to remove them.

Different dye colors require slightly different treatments. The good news is that you probably have most of these products already in your house, so you can treat the stain as soon as you see it.

Thankfully, most hair dye stains on clothes can be removed with household cleaners. Some examples of cleaners you can use include oxygen-based bleach, chlorine bleach, heavy-duty laundry detergent, and more.

Read on to learn how to remove hair dye stains.

Tip

Never put clothing that still has a hair dye stain in the dryer, as the dryer's heat can permanently set the stain. Don't rub or scrub the stain either, as it will push it into the material deeper.

How to Remove Hair Dye Stains From Clothes

The Spruce / Xiaojie Liu

Stain Type  Dye-based
Detergent Type High-performing laundry detergent or dishwashing liquid
Water Temperature Cold
Cycle type Varies depending on the type of fabric

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

Brown, Black, or Blue Hair Dye

  • Soft-bristled brush
  • Soaking basin
  • Measuring cup

Red Hair Dye

  • 2 Soaking containers
  • Measuring cup
  • Washing machine

Materials

Brown, Black, or Blue Hair Dye

  • Heavy-duty laundry detergent
  • Oxygen-based bleach
  • Chlorine bleach

Red Hair Dye

  • Dishwashing liquid
  • Ammonia
  • Distilled white vinegar
  • Oxygen-based bleach
  • Water

Instructions

materials for removing hair dye stains
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

How to Remove Brown, Black, or Blue Hair Dye From Clothes

  1. Spot-Treat With Liquid Laundry Detergent

    When you discover a drip of dye, as soon as possible, rub heavy-duty liquid laundry detergent with stain-lifting enzymes into the stain using a soft-bristled brush and rinse well.

    spot cleaning hair dye stains with liquid detergent
    The Spruce / Letícia Almeida 
  2. Pre-Soak in Chlorine or Oxygen-Based Bleach

    Fill a sink, basin, or bucket with cool water and add oxygen-based bleach following package directions. Submerge the garment and allow it to soak for at least eight hours or overnight.

    If the stain remains and the clothing is white, do another soak with one gallon of water and one-fourth cup of chlorine bleach. Soak for 15 minutes and rinse with plenty of cold water.

    Warning

    Do not soak the fabric in chlorine bleach for longer than 15 minutes. Prolonged soaking can weaken the fabric.

    submerging the stained item in an oxygen bleach solution
    The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
  3. Launder and Air Dry

    Launder the garment, as usual, using cold water. Air dry the clothing, and repeat the process if the stain remains.

    soaking the affected garment in a chlorine bleach solution
    The Spruce / Letícia Almeida 

How to Remove Red Hair Dye From Clothes

How to Remove Red Hair Dye Stains From Clothes

The Spruce / Xiaojie Liu

  1. Soak in Dishwashing Liquid and Ammonia

    Mix a solution of one quart of water, one-half teaspoon of liquid dishwashing soap, and one tablespoon of household ammonia in a plastic or glass container.

    Submerge the stained area and allow the stain to soak for 30 minutes. At the 15-minute mark, rub the stained area to loosen the dye.

    Warning

    Never mix ammonia with any soap or detergent that has chlorine bleach in it as the combination produces a toxic gas.

    Soaking the stain in an ammonia and dish soap solution

    The Spruce

  2. Soak in Vinegar and Water

    In a separate glass or plastic container, mix one quart of warm water and 1/4 cup of distilled white vinegar. Allow the stained area to soak for 30 minutes. 

    Launder the garment as usual and then air dry. If the stain is still present, move to the next step.

    Working the solution in with your fingers

    The Spruce

  3. Soak in Oxygen-Based Bleach and Water

    Fill a sink with cold water and add oxygen-based bleach following the package directions.

    Submerge the garment for at least eight hours or overnight. Launder as usual and then air dry.

    Soaking the garment in a vinegar solution

    The Spruce

When to Call a Professional

If the stain remains on the clothing after these treatments, the dye likely cannot be removed at home. Take the garment to a professional dry cleaner.

If the garment is labeled as dry clean only, take it in as quickly as possible and point out the stain to your professional dry cleaner. They have heavy-duty chemical cleaners that might be able to help. A reliable dry cleaner will tell you upfront if your garment cannot be fixed.

FAQ
  • Can hair dye be washed out of clothes?

    Yes, you can wash both permanent and semi-permanent hair dye out of clothing, so long as you treat the stain beforehand. Addressing the stain as quickly as possible is also key.

  • Does rubbing alcohol remove hair dye from clothes?

    In order to remove blue, brown, or black hair dye from white clothing, you can rinse the stain with cold water and rubbing alcohol. This method works best for fresh hair dye stains.

  • How do you get dried dye out of clothes?

    To get dried dye out of clothes, dampen a white cloth with any clear solvent that is 90% alcohol such as rubbing alcohol or a commercial stain remover. Next, repeatedly dab the stain with the white cloth; the pigment from the dye should transfer from the clothing to the white cloth. Once the stain is gone, rinse the garment in warm water and then wash as normal.

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Dangers of Mixing Bleach with Cleaners. Washington State Department of Health.