How to Remove Color Bleeding From Clothes

You know what can happen if you happen to wash a dark colored garment with your white clothes. Luckily, you might be able to salvage your tinted laundry with a little knowhow and a little bleach.

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Use as directed.

Most new garments can bleed a bit for the first few laundry cycles, so washing newer items alone or only with like colors is a great way to avoid dye transfer. But to restore items that have picked up fugitive colors in the wash cycle, you can try a bleach soaking solution, as long as the items are safely bleachable.

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Steps to remove ink from clothing

  1. Check fabrics for bleachability

    First, be sure items are bleachable. Check for colorfastness before proceeding.

    Tip

    Never bleach wool, silk, mohair, leather or Spandex.

    Close-up of a clothing care label with laundry symbols showing warm water and bleach, no dry cleaning.

  2. Mix a bleach solution

    Combine ¼ cup bleach and 1 gallon cool water in a dishpan.

    Close-up of a white bottle pouring out clear liquid, and stream of water from upper right.

  3. Soak items

    Wearing gloves, soak clothing in bleach solution for up to – but no longer than – 5 minutes.

    Hands with rubber gloves in a plastic bucket.

  4. Rinse and dry

    Rinse out the items thoroughly with clean water, and air dry.

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  5. Repeat if necessary

    If items are still discolored, repeat the bleaching process.