If dye (either food coloring or wantek) spills on your clothes, you don't have to rush to throw it away. While some stains can't be removed, you can try salvaging your favorite clothes using alcohol, a stain remover product, or bleach. As long as the stain hasn't dried, there's still a chance to pick it up and secure your clothes.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Removing Stains with Alcohol
Step 1. Buy alcohol
You can buy isopropyl alcohol or medical alcohol products at pharmacies or supermarkets. You can use it on clothes, including clothes that don't smudge or fade frequently when washed. Check for colorfastness by spraying water on one part of the garment, then dabbing a white towel on that area.
- Other products with a high alcohol content such as hair spray and hand wash gel can also be used to remove dye stains.
- For leather clothes, use saddle soap (special soap for leather clothes).
Step 2. Wet the stain with alcohol
You will need an absorbent medium such as patchwork, paper towels, or cotton. Wet the media with enough alcohol, then dab it on the stained area. The dye will eventually be absorbed by the absorbent medium. To remove stains from clothes, you will need to use alcohol several times.
Step 3. Coat the stain with laundry detergent
Let the alcohol settle on the stain and pour a little detergent over it. Use a small amount of detergent and spread it over the stained area.
Step 4. Scrub the stained area carefully with a toothbrush
Be careful not to damage the fabric of the garment. You can use an old toothbrush, but if you don't have one, use your fingers to scrub the stain. Spread the detergent on the stained area so that it gets into the fibers of the fabric.
Step 5. Rinse the clothes with warm water
Wash clothes in warm water (approximately 32 degrees Celsius) to remove excess alcohol and detergent. This wash will also remove any stains that have been removed by the alcohol.
Step 6. Wash the clothes
Put the clothes in the washing machine and clean as usual. Once the stain is gone, you can dry the clothes. If several cleaning sessions using alcohol don't work, you'll need to use a stronger product like bleach.
Method 2 of 3: Remove the Stains
Step 1. Fill the sink with warm water
Fill a sink, soaking tub, or bucket with 15 liters of water. For most types of fabric, water at 32 degrees Celsius is safe and can still remove or lift dye stains. Use a thermometer to measure the temperature of the water or wash clothes in the washing machine so you don't have to clean them in the sink.
Step 2. Use cold water when washing clothes with perishable materials
Delicate fabrics like silk and lace are prone to breakage. Cold water of 27 degrees Celsius or lower helps prevent damage to the fibers of the fabric. In addition, cold water can also be used for contrasting dark colored clothes because clothes with this color tend to fade easily when washed in warm water.
- Check the labels on the clothes or do an internet search for fabric types to find out the maximum water temperature that can be used when washing.
- You can wash clothes in a washing machine if you don't want to clean them manually (by hand).
Step 3. Add a stain or smudging product
Products like this are usually sold in powder form and can be found in the clothing products section. Follow the instructions displayed on the back of the product box. Usually, you need to pour a pack of the product into the water and wait for the product to dissolve.
Color-lifting products can remove a lot of color from clothes, so make sure you read the product instructions carefully. Also make sure the product is dissolved or diluted in water before use
Step 4. Soak the garment in water until the stain is removed
Put all the clothes that are stained with the dye in the soaking water and stir the water occasionally. Wear gloves or cooking utensils to prevent the dye from getting on your hands. Soak the clothes for a few hours.
Make sure the original color of the clothes doesn't fade. If the original color of the clothes appears to be faded, immediately remove the clothes from the water
Step 5. Rinse the clothes with warm water
The color-lifting product will continue to work until you rinse the garment. After removing the clothes from the soaking water, place them under the faucet. Rinse all clothes in warm water (approximately 32 degrees Celsius). If you clean clothes with perishable materials, rinse them in cold water.
Step 6. Repeat the cleaning process for stubborn stains
If stubborn stains are still on the clothes, repeat the cleaning. You can fill a bucket with water and add a color or stain remover product. It may take several cleanings to remove the dye stain from the clothes. Keep a close eye on the process so that the "normal" color of the garment doesn't fade as you remove the stain.
Step 7. Wash clothes as usual
Clean clothes as you would any other clothes. You can use a washing machine with regular detergent to clean it. After the clothes have been washed, the dye stains will be lifted so the clothes are safe to dry.
Method 3 of 3: Using Bleach
Step 1. Mix bleach with cold water
Fill a sink or bucket with cold water. Use 60 ml of bleach for every 4 liters of water. For white cotton or cotton-polyester blends, you can use chlorine bleach. Use an oxygenated bleach product or an all-color bleach product for other types of fabrics.
- Bleach is a very strong chemical, so make sure you always dilute it with water first and don't put it directly on your clothes.
- Do not mix other chemical cleaning agents with chlorine bleach. The combination of the two produces toxic gases.
Step 2. Soak the clothes for 5 minutes
Bleach can make clothes wear out quickly, so make sure you don't leave your clothes alone. Place the stained garment in the bleach mixture and soak for 5 minutes. When finished, immediately remove the clothes from the water.
- When using an all-purpose or all-colour bleaching product, you can soak the garment in the mixture for up to 30 minutes.
- As long as it is diluted with water, the bleach will not sting the skin. Wear gloves or do not leave your hands in the water for long periods of time. Rinse your hands afterward.
Step 3. Rinse the clothes under running water
It is hoped that the dye stain will be lifted after soaking. Whatever the condition of the clothes after soaking, rinse the clothes immediately. For most types of fabric, you can use warm water. However, use cold water for clothes with perishable materials. Make sure you rinse the garment thoroughly so that no bleach remains on the fabric.
Step 4. Wash the clothes
Transfer the soaked clothes to the washing machine. Now, you can wash it as usual. You can also use regular laundry detergent. In addition, detergent also functions to eradicate germs and remove dye stains from clothes.
Step 5. Repeat cleaning if stain is still visible
Dye stains are usually difficult to remove so one wash may not be enough. Refill the bucket or sink with water and bleach. Soak the clothes, then rinse a second time. As long as you follow the steps exactly, you can remove the dye stains from your clothes.
