How to Remove Bleach Stains From Clothes

Have you ever gone through the unpleasant experience of wearing your favorite shirt, and accidentally dropping bleach on it? Although bleach removes color from a fabric, it can be fixed. There are ways you can cover up the stain, and make your shirt look new. Following are some of the strategies that can help you remove bleach stains from your clothing.

Method One (Using Alcohol)

 Things that you will require:

·      A little bit of alcohol

·      Either one to two cotton balls or one to two absorbent pads

Steps that you will need to take:

1.   The first step involves applying a bit of alcohol to either a cotton ball or an absorbent pad.

2.   Then, hold the damaged cloth, and rub the stain and the area around it with the cotton ball or the absorbent pad.

3.   Keep rubbing the stain and the area around it till the original color of the shirt spreads to the stained area.

Although easy and simple, this method works depending on the size of the stain and the color of the clothing item. It proves to be more effective when used on small stains and dark colored items since they are more likely to absorb the color well compared to light colored clothes with large stains. If this method does not work or if it is unsuitable in your case, then follow the methods written below.

Method Two (Use Bleach)

  Another way to save your favorite garment is to bleach the whole garment. This will either give you a garment of a lighter color, or a garment with a tie dye look. If you choose to apply this method, make sure not to wash any other clothes with it. Following are the things that you will require, and the steps that will need to be followed:

Things that you will require:

·      Chlorine bleach

·      A reliable, and non-damaging bleach remover, such as Anti-chlor, OR Sodium Thiosulfate, also known as Bleach Stop, OR 3% Hydrogen Peroxide

·      A tub

Steps that you will need to take:

1.   The first step to be taken is to fill the tub with water.

2.   Soak your shirt in the tub.

3.   Pour chlorine bleach into a cup till a quarter of it is filled.

4.   Now, add the quarter cup of bleach into the tub.

5.   Wash the item till you have a lighter shade of the color of your choice.

However, if you use chlorine bleach without neutralizing it, it will eat away your fiber, developing holes in the garment after a while. To avoid this, you must use any of the three bleach neutralizers mentioned above, i.e., Anti-chlor, Bleach Stop or Hydrogen Peroxide. The steps that you need to take after bleaching your shirt are:

1.   After you have washed your shirt with bleach, empty the tub of water.

2.   Now, add fresh rinse water to the tub.

3.   Quickly rinse your shirt in the water.

4.   Amount of bleach neutralizer to be added depends on which neutralizer is being used. If using Bleach Stop, add a whole ounce by weight (30 grams) per gallon of warm water. On the other hand, if you are using Anti-chlor, add slightly less than half a teaspoon to a gallon of water, or a whole teaspoon to 2.5 gallons per water. Add a quarter to half cup of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide per a gallon of water.

5.   Remember never to use any kind of acid, for example vinegar, to neutralize the effect of bleach. It will produce hypochlorous acid or chlorine gas which will be even more deadly for your garment.

6.   Keep your garment soaked for an approximately half an hour before drying it out.

Method Three (Use Dye on Your Clothing)

One of the best solutions to your problem of bleach stain on your favorite shirt can be solved by dying the garment. If you are lucky, you will be able to find the exact shade of color of your shirt. However, often one is unable to find an exact shade. In such a case, you can follow the following procedure:

Things that you will require:

·      A dye or color remover. For example, the Rit Color Remover;

·      Dye or color of your own choice. For example, Rit Liquid Fabric Dye or Rit Powder Dye;

Now, proceed in the following way:

1.   Add hot water to a tub or your washer

2.   Depending on how many clothes you are washing, and whether you want all the color to be removed or for the color to get light only, add a suitable amount of color remover. Normally, to remove color from a small load of clothes, it can take up to two packets of a color remover.

3.   Keep the garment soaked from ten to thirty minutes, depending on the original color of the garment.

4.   Once you have removed the color, fill up the tub again with rinse water and add the dye of your choice to it. Follow the instructions mentioned on the packet of dye closely to dye the garment.

Although bleach stains can be treated, the best way to deal with them is to take precautions to avoid them.

Related Articles:

How to remove Bleach Stains from White Clothes

How to remove Bleach Stains from Carpet