How to Get Clothes White When Dye Bleeds in a Washing Machine
It happens to the best of us. One colored item ends up in a wash full of whites and the dye from the colored fabric bleeds onto the others; the whites are no longer white.
While there are many products on the market promising to block the color from spreading, such as dye transfer paper, stain removers and even salt, without pretreating the fabrics you’re likely to have to correct the dye bleeding afterward. Fortunately, there are several household products that have proven effective in returning the dyed clothes back to white.
Things You Will Need
- Bleach
- Ammonia
- Dish detergent
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Water
- Bucket
- Spray bottle
- Laundry detergent
Tip
The best results occur when the dye has not dried onto the fabric. Treat the stain as soon as possible. Test the fabric for colorfastness on a small section prior to treating the stain.
Warning
Results vary based on severity of color run and type of fabric. CAUTION: Do not mix cleaning products other than instructed. Poisonous gases may result. For further information, please see Resource link below.
Hydrogen Peroxide
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Mix one part of 20-volume strength hydrogen peroxide with six parts water.
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Soak the garment for 30 minutes or until stain has cleared.
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Rinse the garment in cold water, treat with a stain lifter solution and re-wash with laundry detergent.
Bleach
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Set your washing machine to the fill setting, and dilute one cup of bleach by pouring it into the bleach dispenser.
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Soak the fabric in the bleach for 30 minutes.
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Add laundry detergent and set the washing machine to normal cycle.
Ammonia and Dish Detergent
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Mix equal parts dish detergent, ammonia and water.
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Place the solution into a spray bottle and generously apply it to the dyed area.
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Rub the mixture into the dye using a sponge or toothbrush. Wait 30 minutes and re-wash the clothes in a normal wash.
The Drip Cap
- It happens to the best of us.
- Soak the fabric in the bleach for 30 minutes.
- Add laundry detergent and set the washing machine to normal cycle.
References
Writer Bio
Curtis Gifford has been creating content for various websites and publications since 2000. His writings have appeared on websites such as Monster.com and he is also an expert in the knowledge management field. Gifford studied political science at Suffolk University in Boston.
Photo Credits
- laundry image by samantha grandy from Fotolia.com
- laundry image by samantha grandy from Fotolia.com
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