How to Get Color Bleed Out of Clothes Without Damaging the Fabric

A dark item bled into your wash and dyed your lighter clothes. Maybe a red sock turned your white shirts pink, or a new pair of jeans dyed your yellow towel blue. Color bleed is frustrating, but it can be removed if you act quickly. Here’s how to get color bleed out of clothes without damage.

Color bleed is dye transfer that happens when loose dye from one fabric dissolves in wash water and bonds with another fabric. Color bleed is caused by washing new or dark items with lighter colors, especially in warm or hot water. Removing color bleed requires oxygen bleach to break down the dye molecules or a commercial color remover to strip the dye.

To get color bleed out of clothes, act quickly, don’t dry the affected clothes, wash them separately, soak in oxygen bleach for 1 to 2 hours, wash with Tide Free and Gentle in hot water, and check before drying. For stubborn stains, use a commercial color remover. Don’t put color-bleed clothes in the dryer, don’t use chlorine bleach on colors, and don’t wash them with other clothes.

Step-by-Step: Removing Color Bleed from Clothes

Step 1: Act Quickly

The sooner you treat color bleed, the easier it is to remove. Don’t let the affected clothes dry.

Step 2: Don’t Dry the Clothes

Don’t put the affected clothes in the dryer. Dryer heat sets the dye permanently. Keep them wet.

Step 3: Wash Separately

Don’t wash the affected clothes with other clothes. The dye can transfer again. Wash them separately.

Step 4: Soak in Oxygen Bleach

Dissolve 1 scoop of oxygen bleach in hot water. Submerge the affected clothes. Soak for 1 to 2 hours. Oxygen bleach breaks down dye molecules.

Step 5: Wash in Hot Water

Wash with Tide Free and Gentle in hot water. Add 1 scoop of oxygen bleach and half a cup of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda.

Step 6: Add Vinegar to the Rinse

Add half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse to help lift the dye.

Step 7: Check Before Drying

Check the clothes before putting them in the dryer. If the dye remains, treat again and re-wash. Don’t put color-bleed clothes in the dryer.

For Stubborn Color Bleed

Use OxiClean

Spray with OxiClean Max Force Spray. Let it sit for 15 minutes. The enzymes help break down the dye.

Use Dish Soap

Apply Dawn Ultra Dish Soap to the dyed areas. Work it in gently. Let it sit for 15 minutes. The surfactants help lift the dye.

Use a Commercial Color Remover

Use a commercial color remover (like Rit Color Remover). Follow the package instructions. Color removers strip dye from fabric, so use them carefully and only on white or light-colored clothes.

Use Hydrogen Peroxide (For White Clothes Only)

Apply 3% hydrogen peroxide to the dyed areas. Let it sit for 10 minutes. Hydrogen peroxide is safe for white fabric and helps break down dye. Don’t use on colored fabric as it can lighten colors.

Use Rubbing Alcohol (For Small Areas)

Apply rubbing alcohol to the dyed areas with a cotton ball. Blot. The alcohol helps lift the dye. Rinse with cold water.

For White Clothes with Color Bleed

White clothes with color bleed have an advantage: you can use stronger products.

Step 1: Apply Oxygen Bleach Paste

Make a paste of oxygen bleach powder and water. Apply to the dyed areas. Let it sit for 30 minutes.

Step 2: Apply Hydrogen Peroxide

Apply 3% hydrogen peroxide to the dyed areas. Let it sit for 10 minutes.

Step 3: Wash in Hot Water

Wash with Tide Free and Gentle in hot water. Add 1 scoop of oxygen bleach.

Step 4: Dry in the Sun

Sunlight helps break down dye molecules. Dry white clothes in the sun.

How to Prevent Color Bleed

Wash New Items Separately

Wash new dark or bright items separately for the first 3 to 4 washes. New items bleed the most dye in the first few washes.

Use Cold Water

Cold water reduces dye bleeding. Wash dark and bright items in cold water.

Test for Colorfastness

Before washing a new item with other clothes, test for colorfastness. Dampen a hidden area and press with a white cloth. If dye transfers, wash separately.

Use Color Catcher Sheets

Use color catcher sheets in the wash. These sheets absorb loose dye and prevent transfer.

Sort by Color

Always sort clothes by color before washing. Don’t wash dark items with white or light-colored clothes.

Use the Right Products

Detergent: Tide Free and Gentle

Stain removers: OxiClean Max Force Spray, Dawn Ultra Dish Soap, Shout Advanced Grease Busting Foam

Odor absorber: Arm and Hammer Baking Soda

Machine cleaner: affresh Washing Machine Cleaner

Laundry sanitizer: Lysol Laundry Sanitizer

Ink remover: Amodex Ink and Stain Remover

What Not to Do

Don’t put color-bleed clothes in the dryer. Dryer heat sets dye permanently. Keep clothes wet and treat immediately.

Don’t use chlorine bleach on colored clothes. Chlorine bleach strips color. Use oxygen bleach instead.

Don’t wash affected clothes with other clothes. The dye can transfer again. Wash separately.

Don’t let the affected clothes dry before treating. Dye sets as it dries. Treat while wet.

Don’t use hot water on the item that caused the bleed. Hot water increases dye bleeding. Wash dark items in cold water.

Don’t use hydrogen peroxide on colored clothes. Hydrogen peroxide can lighten colors. Use on white clothes only.

FAQ

How do you get color bleed out of clothes? Act quickly, don’t dry the clothes, wash them separately, soak in oxygen bleach for 1 to 2 hours, wash with Tide Free and Gentle in hot water, and check before drying. For stubborn stains, use OxiClean or a commercial color remover.

Does oxygen bleach remove color bleed from clothes? Yes. Oxygen bleach breaks down dye molecules. Dissolve 1 scoop in hot water, submerge the affected clothes, soak for 1 to 2 hours, and wash in hot water. For stubborn stains, use a commercial color remover.

How do you prevent color bleed in the wash? Wash new dark or bright items separately for the first 3 to 4 washes, use cold water, test for colorfastness before washing with other clothes, use color catcher sheets, and always sort by color.

Can you put color-bleed clothes in the dryer? Don’t put color-bleed clothes in the dryer until the dye is completely gone. Dryer heat sets dye permanently. Keep clothes wet and treat immediately.

Does color catcher sheets prevent color bleed? Yes. Color catcher sheets absorb loose dye in the wash water and prevent it from transferring to other clothes. They’re a good safety net, but sorting by color and using cold water are still the best prevention.

References

1. Tide. “How to Remove Color Bleed from Clothes.” tide.com.
2. The Spruce. “Color Bleed Removal Guide.” thespruce.com.
3. Good Housekeeping. “Dye Transfer Guide.” goodhousekeeping.com.
4. Rit. “Color Remover Guide.” ritdye.com.