Removing Bleach Stains from Clothes: First Steps and Choosing a Product
Bleach is used to remove stains from things. But sometimes its contact with the fabric can lead not only to color loss, but also to serious damage to the fibers, up to the formation of tears. There are several ways to remove a bleach stain on your own.
First steps
At home, the first steps to save fabric from the effects of bleach should be aimed at removing its residue. Only then should you begin restoring the color.
As soon as the whiteness appears on the material, you should immediately rinse the damaged area under cool water, washing out the chemical. Do not wash the entire item, as the bleach residue may get onto unaffected areas.
After the substance has been removed, the effect of the already absorbed whiteness on the clothes must be neutralized. Baking soda is suitable for this. A small amount of it should be mixed with water until a paste is formed, and then applied to the stain. After the mixture dries, brush it off.
Restoring color with a fabric marker
Bleach stains on fabric will not be able to return their color after rinsing and washing, since the coloring pigment is completely dissolved. One way to give the material the desired shade is to use a marker.
The ideal option is a tool specifically designed for working with fabric. If you don’t have one, a regular alcohol-based stationery model will do.
The least noticeable use of a marker will be if the fabric is dyed in a single color, the easiest option is to remove stains on black. After choosing a suitable shade, you need to carefully paint over the white mark from the bleach, moving from the edge of the zone to the center.
It is not advisable to go beyond the outline of the stain; applying the marker tone to the fabric of the original color can give a completely different version in terms of saturation and shade. If, however, the area of action of the bleach, colored with the marker, is brighter than the rest of the area, you can wet the sponge in alcohol and rub it a little.
With dye
This method is advisable to use if a large area of the material has been damaged by chlorine bleach. It is better to choose a dye specially designed for work on fabric, and also matching the shade of the original.
You can use the ready-made product on the entire product, but it may require preliminary bleaching of the entire fabric. Which can completely change the original tone of the material.
In other cases, you can only paint the affected area. Dissolve the purchased dye in water and apply according to the instructions on the package. Some brands require boiling, others – working in cool liquid.
At the end of the process, it is worth applying a dye fixer to the fabric so that during the use of the item for its intended purpose, you do not stain your skin or hair. You can add a little vinegar to the water during rinsing, after the effect of the dye component, this will fix the pigment in the fabric.
Chemical dye is great for removing chlorine bleach stains on towels. It is impossible to use a marker on them, since the material has an uneven surface and is highly absorbent. And there is no point in using alcohol, there is not enough paint. The dye is used on towels according to the same instructions as for other fabrics, and the composition is fixed in the end.
With alcohol
Alcohol can remove traces of chlorine from black or plain colored fabrics. The area of the surface to be treated should not be large. To do this, you need to:
- Soak the sponge in alcohol (preferably undiluted).
- Starting from the stained area, slightly beyond the edge of the stain, move the cotton pad towards the center of the area.
- Paint over the entire area damaged by chlorine in this manner.
When the fabric with the pigment comes under the action of alcohol, the dye dissolves a little and can be stretched over the entire required area. This method works best for removing chlorine bleach stains from jeans, especially dark ones. They have a very high dye content, so it easily transfers to the discolored area.
Ammonia
If a bleach mark appears on white items, it usually has a yellow tone that stands out against the background. The best way to get rid of the problem is ammonia. To remove the yellowness, you need to do the following:
- Mix ammonia and water (1:1 ratio).
- Treat the yellowed area with the composition.
- Rinse the item and wash with laundry soap or powder.
Aspirin can be used for a similar purpose. It should be crushed, mixed with water and applied to the stain. After 15 minutes, wash the item. Both options work better on fresh damage.
Drops of bleach that fall on the material can dissolve the pigment contained in the fibers. An item with discolored areas is most often thrown away, although you can try to bring it back to life using one of the simple methods of restoring the tone.
