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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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.

  2. Mix a bleach solution

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

  3. Soak items

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

  4. Rinse and dry

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

  5. Repeat if necessary

    If items are still discolored, repeat the bleaching process.