How to Remove Dye Transfer Stains from Your Clothing

Save your garments from stains with these simple cleaning tips

Co-authored by Kamel Almani and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: February 20, 2023 References

Before You Start

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White Clothes

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Colored Clothing

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Preventing Dye Transfers

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Q&A

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Things You'll Need

Oh no! Did one of your colored clothes bleed dye onto other items in your laundry? Before you panic about ruining your clothes, rest assured that it’s actually really easy to remove the color stains before they get a chance to set in. Whether dye transferred onto white or colored clothes, we have the perfect ways to restore their look. Keep reading to learn the best ways to treat stains and prevent dye from transferring in the first place.

Things You Should Know

Soak white clothes in a solution of water and non-chlorine bleach or vinegar for 30 minutes. Rinse and wash your clothes after.
Leave colored garments in oxygen bleach for at least 30 minutes, and then wash them to get rid of harsh stains.
Try blotting non-red stains with a cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol to lift up dye transfer.
Use a color remover to completely strip all the dye from your clothing for the harshest stains.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Before You Start

1
Keep your stained clothes out of the dryer.
Do not put clothing that color has transferred onto in your dryer.
Doing so will set the transferred dye into the fabric and make a stain much more difficult to remove. It may even make the discoloration permanent.^{[1]
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- Start treating the stain as soon as you notice it when it’s fresh. If you’re removing set-in stains, you can still try these techniques, but they may not be as effective.
2
Separate the clothes that are bleeding color. Once you realize that dye from one piece of clothing has transferred onto other clothes, take that garment out and set it aside. This will prevent any additional dye from transferring onto your clothes.^{[2]
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- Compare the colors of your washed clothes to similar garments in your wardrobe to see which ones were affected by the dye transfer.
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3
Read the clothing labels. Before you attempt to remove dye that has transferred onto your clothing,
carefully read the clothing labels
to learn what’s safe to use on your clothing. Check if you’re able to use bleach and what temperatures are safe for washing the fabric.^{[3]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

White Clothes

1
Soak white clothing in non-chlorine bleach or vinegar. Place your white clothes in a large sink or bathtub.
Add 1 cup (235 mL) of white vinegar to your sink
if you want an effective, natural solution. If the care tag says you’re able to bleach your clothes, use ¼ cup (60 mL) of non-chlorine bleach instead. Then, add 1 gallon (3.8 liters) of cool water and let your clothes soak for 30 minutes.^{[4]
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- Alternatively, soak your stained clothes in a bucket filled with warm water and 1 c (240 mL) of oxygen bleach.^{[5]
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  Expert Source
  
  Kamel Almani
  Laundry & Cleaning Specialist
  Expert Interview. 13 April 2021.}
- For non-red dyes, try blotting the stain with rubbing alcohol to lift up the color.^{[6]
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2
Rinse and wash your clothes in your machine. Rinse your clothing under cold water to rinse out the vinegar or bleach. Then, use your washing machine and your standard detergent to wash your clothes. Use a cool water cycle, and allow your clothes to air-dry when you’re finished.^{[7]
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3
Try a commercial color remover. If soaking and washing the white clothing in vinegar or bleach does not remove the dye, use a product like Rit Color Remover or Carbona Color Remover. Color remover is a chemical product that strips all the dyes from the fabric so all that’s leftover is the raw uncolored material. Mix the product with water according to the package directions, and then soak, rinse, and launder the clothing.^{[8]
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- You should only use color remover on all-white clothing since it will strip all dyes from the fabric.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Colored Clothing

1
Try rewashing 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 might be enough to get a light dye transfer out of the fabric.^{[9]
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2
Soak your clothes in color-safe oxygen bleach. If rewashing the colored fabrics does not remove the transferred dye, you can try soaking the items in color-safe bleach. First, test an inconspicuous patch of the fabric for colorfastness. Then, add color-safe bleach to a sink or bucket of water according to the package directions. Soak your clothes for at least 30 minutes, but leave them overnight for a more effective clean. Once you finish soaking your clothes, rinse them with cool water, wash them as normal, and let them air-dry.^{[10]
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- Oxygen bleach is safer than chlorine bleach and won't damage your garments.
How to Make Homemade Color Safe Bleach
Hydrogen peroxide: Add 3 c (710 mL) of hydrogen peroxide to a clean jug.
Add water: Pour in 3 c (710 mL) of water.
Mix in dish soap: Stir in 1–2 US tbsp (15–30 ml) of liquid dish soap
Mix in essential oils to scent: If you’d like your color-safe bleach to smell good, mix in your favorite essential oil, like lavender or peppermint.^{[11]
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3
Try adding a color catcher sheet to your load. A color catcher is a piece of fabric that has been specially formulated to catch bleeding dye in the washing machine. Place the color catcher in the washing machine and then wash your clothes according to the instructions on the package.^{[12]
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Preventing Dye Transfers

1
Read your clothing labels. Look for the care label on your clothing, usually on the collar, hemline, or waistband. Many items, like dark denim, will include tags that state the dye might transfer, or they may instruct you to wash the items separately.^{[13]
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Choosing Clothes that Won’t Bleed Color
Avoid: Labels that say “Color Rubs Off,” “Do Not Use Detergent,” “Wash Before Wear,” “Turn Inside Out to Launder,” “Use Cold Water,” or “Color May Wash Down.” This tells you that the dyes used in the clothing item are unstable and will likely bleed in the wash.
Choose: Clothes made from synthetic fibers, like nylon or polyester. These fibers tend to retain color better than natural materials, like wool or cotton.^{[14]
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2
Sort your clothing by color. Separate your clothing items to prevent the colors from transferring between garments. For example, sort your laundry into separate piles for white clothing, dark or black clothing, and brightly colored clothing. Then, wash each pile of laundry separately so the colors don’t transfer.^{[15]
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Trustworthy Source
Consumer Reports
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3
Wash problematic items separately. Certain items of clothing that can be particularly problematic, like a new pair of dark denim jeans or a red cotton shirt, are common culprits of causing dye transfer stains.
Wash these items by themselves
and according to the directions on the clothing label to prevent the colors from running.^{[16]
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4
Take clothes out of the washer right away. Forgetting to remove your wet clothes from the washing machine can cause the dye to bleed from one item to another. To prevent this from happening, always remove your clothes as soon as the washing machine’s cycle ends. Either hang them up or put them immediately in the dryer.^{[17]
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Tips to Help You Remember Your Laundry
Set a timer: As soon as you throw in a load, set a timer on your phone or kitchen timer that will go off when your laundry is finished.
Install a sensor: There are several smart home laundry sensors on the market that you can purchase. These gadgets are configured to send users a notification to their smartphones when their laundry is ready.

Community Q&A

Question

How can I remove black stains from a yellow dress?

Community Answer

You can remove the stains by putting lemon on the clothes and rubbing out the stains.
Question

How can I remove blue colors from white clothing?

Community Answer

You can bleach the white part.
Question

How can I remove yellow color from a blue shirt?

Community Answer

Soak it in color-safe bleach.