Oh No! Has dye from one of your colored clothes gotten onto other items in your laundry? Before you panic about ruining your clothes, rest assured that it’s really easy to remove color stains before they’ve had a chance to set. Whether dye has transferred onto white or colored clothing, we have the right methods for restoring their look. Keep reading to learn the best ways to treat stains and prevent the dye from transferring in the first place.

[Edit]things you should know

• Soak white clothing in a solution of water and non-chlorine bleach or vinegar for 30 minutes. Wash your clothes after washing them.
• Leave colored clothing in the oxygen bleach for at least 30 minutes, and then wash them to get rid of tough stains.
• Try blotting non-reddish stains with a cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol to lift dye transfer.
• For tougher stains, use color remover to completely remove all dye from your clothing.

[Edit]step

[Edit]before you start

1. Keep your stained clothing out of the dryer.
   Do not put clothes in your dryer on which the color has transferred.

   Doing so will set the transferred dye into the fabric and make the stain more difficult to remove. It can also make the discoloration permanent.^[1]

   
   • Begin treating the stain as soon as it is fresh. You can still try these techniques if you’re removing set-in stains, but they may not be as effective.
2. Separate the clothes that are getting discolored. Once you feel that the dye has transferred from one piece of clothing to another, take it out and set it aside. This will prevent any excess dye from transferring to your clothing.^[2]
   
   • Compare the colors of your washed clothing to similar clothing in your wardrobe to see which ones have been affected by dye transfer.
3. Read clothing labels. Before you attempt to remove dye from your clothing,
   read clothing labels carefully

   Here’s how to know what’s safe to use on your clothes. Check whether you are able to use bleach and what temperatures are safe for washing clothes.^[3]

   

[Edit]White clothes

1. Soak white clothing in non-chlorine bleach or vinegar. Place your white clothing in a large sink or bathtub.
   Pour 1 cup (235 mL) of white vinegar into your sink.

   If you want an effective, natural solution. If the care tag says you can bleach your clothing, use ¼ cup (60 mL) non-chlorine bleach instead. Then, add 1 gallon (3.8 liters) of cool water and let your clothes soak for 30 minutes.^[4]

   
   • Alternatively, soak your stained clothing in a bucket filled with warm water and oxygen bleach.^[5]
   • For non-red dyes, try blotting the stain with rubbing alcohol to lift the color.^[6]
2. Rinse and wash your clothes in your machine. Wash your clothes in cold water to get rid of the vinegar or bleach. Then, use your washing machine and your standard detergent to wash your clothes. Use a cold water cycle, and allow your clothes to air dry when you’re finished.^[7]
   
3. Try commercial color remover. If soaking and washing white clothing in vinegar or bleach doesn’t remove the dye, use a product like Rite Color Remover or Carbona Color Remover. Color remover is a chemical product that removes all color from fabric, so all that is left is a raw, colorless substance. Mix the product with water according to package directions, and then soak, rinse, and wash the clothing.^[8]
   
   • You should only use color remover on white clothing as it will remove all the color from the fabric.

[Edit]colorful clothes

1. Try re-washing your clothes with detergent. If dye has transferred from one colored item to another, try running it through another standard wash cycle. Add your standard detergent to the load, and follow the cleaning instructions on the clothing label. Sometimes, this may be enough to lift a light dye out of the fabric.^[9]
   
2. Soak your clothing in color-safe oxygen bleach. If re-washing the colored clothing doesn’t remove the transferred dye, you can try soaking the items in color-safe bleach. First, test an inconspicuous patch of fabric for color fastness. Then, add color-safe bleach to a sink or bucket of water according to package directions. Soak your clothes for at least 30 minutes, but leave them overnight for a more effective cleaning. Once you’ve finished soaking your clothes, rinse them with cold water, launder them as you normally would, and allow them to air dry.^[10]
   
   • Oxygen bleach is safer than chlorine bleach and won’t harm your clothes. of hydrogen peroxide for a clean jug.
     Add water: Pour in water.
     Mix in dish soap: mix liquid dish soap
     Mix in essential oils to scent: If you want to make your color-safe bleach smell nice, mix in your favorite essential oil, such as lavender or peppermint.^[11],
3. Try adding color catcher sheets to your load. A color catcher is a piece of fabric specially designed to catch dye that bleeds in the washing machine. Place the Color Catcher in the washing machine and then wash your clothes according to the package directions.^[12]
   

[Edit]stop dye transfer

1. Read the labels of your clothes. Look for the care label on your clothing, usually at the collar, hemline or waistband. Many items, such as dark denim, will include tags that state that the dye may transfer, or they may instruct you to wash the item separately.^[13]
   
2. Sort your clothes by color. Separate your clothing items to prevent dyes from transferring between clothes. For example, sort your laundry into separate piles for white clothes, dark or black clothes, and bright colored clothes. Then, wash each pile of laundry separately so colors don’t transfer.^[14]
   
3. Wash problematic items separately. Certain items of clothing that can be particularly problematic, such as a new pair of dark denim jeans or a red cotton shirt, are common culprits for causing dye transfer stains.
   wash these things yourself

   And follow the instructions on the clothing label to prevent color bleeding.^[15]

   
4. Take the clothes out of the washer immediately. Forgetting to take your wet clothes out of the washing machine can transfer dye from one item to another. To prevent this from happening, always remove your clothes as soon as the washing machine cycle ends. Either hang them up or put them in the dryer right away.^[16]
   

[Edit]Things you’ll need

[Edit]White clothes

• non-chlorine bleach
• white vinegar
• color remover

[Edit]colorful clothes

• Washing Soap
• oxygen bleach
• color catcher

[Edit]Related wikiHows

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• Restore White Socks Without Bleach

[Edit]Reference

[Edit]quick summary