What to Do When Dye Transfer Stains Get on Clothes (2024)

Equipment / Tools

Materials

How to Remove Dye Transfer Stains From Colored Clothes

1. Check the Entire Load for Stains

   • Find the color-bleeding culprit and pull it out of the washer.
   • Set it aside for washing later with similar colors.
   • Carefully check each remaining piece of laundry for discoloration or stains.
   • Items that did not get color bleed can go into thedryeror on aclothesline.

   

2. Rewash Colored Clothes With Oxygen-Based Bleach and Detergent

   Rewash all dyed-stained colored or synthetic fabric clothing using anonchlorine (all-fabric or oxygen) bleachin addition to your regular laundry detergent.

   Tip

   Powdered and liquid oxygen bleach work equally well; however, the powdered form is shelf-stable for several years, while liquid oxygen bleach only has a shelf life of six months.

   

   See Also

   Tips to remove indigo stain and color transfer from clothes - The StatesmanHow to Wash Colored Clothes Without Color BleedingWrinkle Free DeliveryColor-Safe & Chlorine-Free Stain Remover | OxiClean™ Free

3. Soak in Oxygen-Based Bleach

   • Soak the stained clothing before rewashing.
   • Mix a solution of oxygen-based bleach (such as OxiClean, Nellie's All Natural Oxygen Brightener, or OXO Brite) and cool water. Follow the package directions for how much product to use per gallon of water.
   • Submerge the stained items and allow them to soak for at least eight hours.

   Tip

   Oxygen bleach is safe for high-efficiencyfront-load and top-load washersand standard washers. It's effective at any water temperature; however, if your water is very cold, dissolve the powder in 1 quart of very warm water before using.

   

4. Recheck and Wash as Usual

   • After rewashing, recheck each piece of clothing for traces of dye.
   • Soak and rewash any items with unwanted color according to the garment care label.
   • Clothes that came out with the undesired color completely gone can go in the dryer. Or, air-dry until you're sure they're back to normal.

   

5. Repeat, If Stain Persists

   • Mix a fresh batch of the oxygen bleach and water solution.
   • Soak for another eight hours or overnight before rewashing if traces of the stain remain.
   • Do not use oxygen bleach on silk or wool.

   

How to Remove Dye Transfer Stains From White Clothes

1. Check the Entire Load for Stains

   • Find the color bleed culprit and pull it out of the washer.
   • Set it aside for washing later with similar colors.
   • Carefully check each remaining piece of laundry for discoloration or stains.
   • Items that did not get color bleed can go into thedryeror on aclothesline.

   

2. Rewash White Cottons With Chlorine Bleach and Detergent

   Use 1/2 cupliquid chlorine bleachwith all-white cotton clothing instead of oxygen bleach. Add the bleach to the dispenser or directly to the wash water with the detergent.

   

   Tip

   Never use chlorine bleach on any colored clothes. Also, do not use it on synthetic fabrics like nylon or polyester.

3. Soak in Chlorine Bleach for 5 Minutes, If Stain Persists

   • If the color bleed stain is still on the clothing item, mix a solution of 1 gallon of water and 3 tablespoons of chlorine bleach in a basin.
   • If you have multiple items, soak them separately.
   • Fully submerge the item for up to five minutes. You may notice the color coming off immediately. After five minutes, rinse out the bleach solution. If the stain is gone, wash it as usual.
   • If a trace of the color bleed remains, repeat for five minutes and rinse.

   

   See Also

   5 Reasons to Use Hydrogen Peroxide for Laundry

4. Wash as Usual

   • Once all dye traces are gone, wash according to the garment care label.
   • Dry as usual. Or, air-dry until you're sure they're back to normal.

   

When to Call a Professional

If dye transfer has occurred on a dry clean-only garment, do not try to solve the problem at home. Instead, take the garment to adry cleaneras soon as possible. Be sure to point out the stain and tell the cleaner what caused the problem. If you use ahome dry cleaning kit, treat the stain with the provided remover before putting the garment in the dryer bag.

Additional Tips for Handling Dye Transfer Stains

• Repeat if it doesn't work the first time: If an initial round of at-home stain removal doesn't effectively remove the stain, repeat the steps. You can also try applying a mix of equal parts baking soda and white vinegar to your stained item and letting it sit for a few hours. Although you should be able to remove your stain using the above methods, you may visit a professional cleaner for specialized advice.
• Test other home remedies: Hydrogen peroxide, borax, and rubbing alcohol are also effective for removing dye stains.
• Do a colorfast test: If you suspect an item might bleed on your other clothes, wet a cotton swab and rub it across an inside seam or hem. If dye appears on the cotton swab, it can bleed and stain your other clothes. Hand wash it separately or with like-colored clothes.
• Try a commercial color run product: If several rounds of soaks and washes still don't remove the stain, consider getting a commercial color run remover product for the affected garment or rewash the item separately using a commercial color catcher sheet.
  
• Handle new clothes carefully: Sort your laundry by lights, darks, and colors. Always launder new, colored clothing in a washing machine or hand wash it alone in a basin before introducing other items. Even fabrics labeled colorfast may take several cycles through the washer before dyes begin to set and cease to affect other clothes.
• Empty pockets: Empty your pockets before machine washing, as debris in pockets can also cause dye transfer stains.
• Clean the washer thoroughly: After a color-bleed incident, clean the washer by immediately filling the washer with hot water. Add one cup of chlorine bleach and run a complete cycle before washing clothes.