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Clothing Stains
How to Remove Dye Transfer Stains from Your Clothing Download Article Save your garments from stains with these simple cleaning tips Co-authored by Kamel Almani and Hunter Rising
Last Updated: April 9, 2025 Fact Checked
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Before You Start
|
White Clothes
|
Colored Clothing
|
Preventing Dye Transfers
|
Video
|
Q&A
|
Things You'll Need
|Show more|Show less X
This article was co-authored by Kamel Almani and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Kamel Almani is a Laundry and Cleaning Specialist and the Co-Owner of WashyWash, a toxin-free and eco-friendly laundry and dry clean service based in Amman, Jordan. Kamel and his staff at WashyWash use Blue Angel certified and dermatologically-tested detergents. They also combine EcoClean and digital technology to provide an eco-friendly, convenient, and quality cleaning service. Kamel holds a BA in Design from the University of Applied Science, Amman. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 2,652,262 times.
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.
How to Get Color Stains Out of White Clothes
Soak colored garments in a solution of water and oxygen bleach for at least 30 minutes. Then, rinse and wash your clothes after to get rid of any remaining harsh stains.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 4:
Before You Start
Download Article
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]XResearch source
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]XResearch source
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]XResearch source
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 4:
White Clothes
Download Article
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]XResearch source
Alternatively, soak your stained clothes in a bucket filled with warm water and 1 c (240 mL) of oxygen bleach.[5]X Expert Source Kamel AlmaniLaundry & Cleaning SpecialistExpert Interview
For non-red dyes, try blotting the stain with rubbing alcohol to lift up the color.
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.[6]XResearch source
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.
You should only use color remover on all-white clothing since it will strip all dyes from the fabric.
Advertisement Method 3 Method 3 of 4:
Colored Clothing
Download Article
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.[7]XResearch source
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.[8]XResearch source
Oxygen bleach is safer than chlorine bleach and won't damage your garments.
How to Make Homemade Color Safe BleachHydrogen 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 soapMix 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.[9]XResearch source
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.[10]XResearch source
Advertisement Method 4 Method 4 of 4:
Preventing Dye Transfers
Download Article
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.[11]XResearch source
Choosing Clothes that Won’t Bleed ColorAvoid: 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.[12]XResearch source
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.[13]X Trustworthy Source Consumer ReportsNonprofit organization dedicated to consumer advocacy and product testing Go to source
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.[14]XResearch source
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.
Tips to Help You Remember Your LaundrySet 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.
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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. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 44 Helpful 104
Question How can I remove blue colors from white clothing? Community Answer You can bleach the white part. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 74 Helpful 87
Question How can I remove yellow color from a blue shirt? Community Answer Soak it in color-safe bleach. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 30 Helpful 51
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Things You'll Need
White Clothes
Non-chlorine bleach
White vinegar
Color remover
Colored Clothes
Laundry detergent
Oxygen bleach
Color catcher
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Co-authored by: Kamel Almani Laundry & Cleaning Specialist This article was co-authored by Kamel Almani and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Kamel Almani is a Laundry and Cleaning Specialist and the Co-Owner of WashyWash, a toxin-free and eco-friendly laundry and dry clean service based in Amman, Jordan. Kamel and his staff at WashyWash use Blue Angel certified and dermatologically-tested detergents. They also combine EcoClean and digital technology to provide an eco-friendly, convenient, and quality cleaning service. Kamel holds a BA in Design from the University of Applied Science, Amman. This article has been viewed 2,652,262 times. 14 votes - 65% Co-authors: 27Updated: April 9, 2025 Views: 2,652,262 Categories: Featured Articles | Clothing StainsArticle SummaryX
If you want to remove coloring washed into white clothes, start by soaking the garment in a sink with 1 gallon of cool water and 1 cup of white vinegar for 30 minutes. Then, rinse the garment with cool water and machine wash it with detergent and cool water. Air dry it when it’s done. To remove color bleed from colored clothing, simply rewash the item with detergent as usual. Keep reading to learn how to prevent color transfer.Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Reader Success Stories
Heidi S.
Jul 3, 2017
"I was afraid I'd ruined my favorite floral patterned skirt by leaving it to soak overnight together with a red top (stupid me). The information in this article helped me to reduce the panic and take appropriate action. After two extra rounds in the washing machine with Biotex and cold water while the skirt was still wet, the red stains were gone! I'm so happy my skirt could be saved! "..." more Rated this article:
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Yes No Did this article help you? Say thanks with a small tip. $1 $3 $5 Leave a Tip Support our mission to help everyone in the world learn how to do anything. Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Kamel Almani Laundry & Cleaning Specialist 14 votes - 65% Click a star to vote 65% of people told us that this article helped them. Co-authors: 27Updated: April 9, 2025 Views: 2,652,262
Heidi S.
Jul 3, 2017
"I was afraid I'd ruined my favorite floral patterned skirt by leaving it to soak overnight together with a red top (stupid me). The information in this article helped me to reduce the panic and take appropriate action. After two extra rounds in the washing machine with Biotex and cold water while the skirt was still wet, the red stains were gone! I'm so happy my skirt could be saved! "..." more Rated this article:
Jana Taylor
May 22, 2017
"I have had success with Rit Color Remover in the past for white fabrics. Tide Sticks work for small stains, and I had heard of color grabber sheets, but had never used them. I didn't think of color-safe bleach. Guess I'm going to the store!"..." more Rated this article: Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories
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Download Article Save your garments from stains with these simple cleaning tips Co-authored by Kamel Almani and Hunter Rising 
An Easy Guide to Washing White Clothes in Your Washing Machine 
The Best Ways to Remove Water-Soluble Paint from Your Clothes 
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Co-authored by: Kamel Almani Laundry & Cleaning Specialist This article was co-authored by Kamel Almani and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Kamel Almani is a Laundry and Cleaning Specialist and the Co-Owner of WashyWash, a toxin-free and eco-friendly laundry and dry clean service based in Amman, Jordan. Kamel and his staff at WashyWash use Blue Angel certified and dermatologically-tested detergents. They also combine EcoClean and digital technology to provide an eco-friendly, convenient, and quality cleaning service. Kamel holds a BA in Design from the University of Applied Science, Amman. This article has been viewed 2,652,262 times. 14 votes - 65% Co-authors: 27 Updated: April 9, 2025 Views: 2,652,262 Categories: Featured Articles | Clothing Stains Article SummaryX
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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] 
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] 
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] Advertisement 
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] 
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.[6] 
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. 
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.[7] 
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.[8] 
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.[10] Advertisement 
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.[11] 
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.[13] 
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.[14] 
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. 
Community Answer You can remove the stains by putting lemon on the clothes and rubbing out the stains. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 44 Helpful 104 
Community Answer You can bleach the white part. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 74 Helpful 87 
Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy.