How to Stop Clothes From Bleeding in the Wash

Clothing is a basic need. Conversely, clothes have also considerably contributed to insecure feelings thanks to bleeding during washing, which decolorizes other clothes in the basin, particularly white ones and blue jeans are always affected. 

What’s Your Pain Point?

A color run outfit frustrates many people who hitherto are oblivious that there is a pretty simple solution to the menace. This article is subdivided into several sub-headings for you to single out which one fits your problem easily. However, it is recommended that you go that extra mile and read the whole of this invaluable article for you to solve and prevent some of these inevitable washing challenges in the future.

Why Do Clothes Bleed In The First Place?

Here are some common reasons why you may be experiencing some fabrics bleeding?

1. They Are Crocking.

You might be wondering what does ‘fabric may crock’ mean? Fabric crocking can normally occur while garments are dry, as well as while they are wet. Think of when you wear a dark color sweater over a white T-shirt, then you go about your day, but later that day, you spot new and light stains on your white T-shirt. That’s what people call ‘crocking.’ Some clothes can even leave stains on your skin.

2. They Are Bleeding.

Bleeding is almost comparable to crocking. The difference is it usually happens when the clothes are wet. The dye color runs off the garments whilst soaked in water, which causes other lighter color clothes in the same wash to be stained.

3. They Are Fading.

Fading is used to describe when the garments lose their original color shade through bleeding or croaking. It can also happen when some clothes have been washed and air dried directly under the sunlight. This is considered normal since fabric, like many other stuff, loses its former conditions overtime. 

How To Stop Clothes From Bleeding

Prevention is better than cure. These basic methods are the ultimate solution on how to keep clothes from bleeding and how to stop colors from bleeding.

1. Hand Wash Separately

To prevent other pieces of clothes from getting stained through color bleeding, washing that specific piece by hand separately is ideal. Depending on the type of fabrics, hand washing instructions may vary. Some clothing items require hand washing in lukewarm water. Some items require hand washing in cold water. Some clothing items such as jeans, bras, and silk garments are more delicate. This is why it’s important to read and follow instructions given on the garment’s care label.

Sort out your dark clothes from your lights. (Photo Credit: Element Envato)

2. Sort With Similar Colors

Whether you’re handwashing your clothes or letting the machine do the work, if you’re going to wash multiple pieces of clothes at once, it’s a better idea to sort out your dark clothes from your lights, and white from any color. This is the best way to prevent color from transferring and staining your clothing items. Even when colors might still bleed out, it won’t be noticeable.

Another reason why you need to sort your clothes is because different types of fabric may need different types of detergents and water temperatures. 

3. Use Dye Fixative

Dye fixatives are used to reduce the chance of croaking, bleeding and fading. Some dye fixatives can even enhance the color of your clothing items. It has a positive charge, and works on most plant textile fibers including cotton, linen, silk, and rayon. 

Dye fixatives are often used for dyeing projects at home like tie-dying. It works as color retention and helps your tie-dye pieces to stand the test of time. It is recommended that you check instructions on the label before every use.

4. Use Color Catcher

Color catchers are sheets that you can put in your laundry to catch any loose dye. Most fabric color pigments contain a negative charge, making them sticking to the positive charges on the color catcher sheets when bleeding in the washer. Though using color catcher does not prevent clothing items from bleeding, it can trap any loose dye and stop dyes from staining other items.

The huge benefit of using a color catcher sheet is that it does not release any chemicals and won’t affect other garments or the washing process at all. Also, if sorting your clothes seems like too much work for you, colour catcher sheets will save your day as it really works like a charm, and no more careful laundry sorting is necessary.

How To Stop Jeans From Bleeding

Color bleed is common, but we lack the correct words to use when the issue befalls the jeans. The jeans, particularly the blue ones, are the most notorious for ceaseless bleeding, and they have the reputation that after the first washing, your initial gorgeous jeans are gone for good. People from all walks of life also wonder how to keep jeans from bleeding. Here are basic tips on how to stop blue jeans from bleeding and keep jeans bleeding at bay;

1. Use Cold Water For Rinsing

A considerable number of people are unaware that rinsing in cold water is a key instigator to doing away with jean bleeding, and rinsing in cold water with no detergent is an added feather to a cap.

2. Use With Vinegar

You can follow one of the tips above by using dye fixatives, or you can use vinegar. Vinegar isn't a dye fixative but depending on the fabric types, the acid in diluted vinegar may help keep your garments from bleeding, fading and degrading under certain circumstances. 

If the jeans are left in the diluted vinegar solution for roughly 30 minutes, ultimately you surely get yourself an incredible dark pair of jeans since vinegar solution will help colors to maintain their intensity. So, beware of this issue as well.

3. Wash A Few Times Before Wearing

Before you clad into your new pair of jeans, washing the jeans a few times will be rewarding. Washing them a few times may already be enough for them to stop bleeding further since new denim can bleed dye only for the first few times that it is washed. 

But note that for some jeans, you might be able to get away with bleeding even after a few washes. You should also ensure that you keep off the dryer and instead use the usual air drying for jeans to serve you longer than even you expected. 

How To Remove Color Bleeding From Colored Clothes

If you cannot prevent bleeding before it happens, trying to figure out how to get color bleeding out of your stained clothes can give you a headache. You need to take action and act fast enough, so color bleeding can be removed easier. See the following tips on how to get color bleeding out of clothes.

• Rewash with bleaches and detergents containing O2 compounds.

The process is particularly effective for clothes that have synthetic fabrics and is used proportionately with the laundry detergent.

• Soak stubborn stains.

These dreaded stains may require soaking in oxygen-based bleaches. However, doing this process on fabrics like wool and silken clothes could be fatal.

Just as they sound, some bleaches are not only useful in removing color bleeds, but they may also lead to fabric croaking. This is the continuous fading of color when washing. Let’s also see how to fade fabric without using bleaches. These options, however, are less effective.

• Try commercial color lighteners.

These commercial color lighteners can be used as a fit substitute for bleachers.

• Soak in vinegar.

Vinegar is another pocket-friendly method to use when you are skeptical of bleaches. Undiluted vinegar works great as a stain treater. The biggest downside is it might not work that well and can alter the colors in some fabrics.

• Wash in hot water.

Washing in hot water is primarily for cotton. Hot water can also be the solution when trying to figure out how to fade the fabric.

How To Fade White Clothes From Color Stains 

Some useful options to bank on when contemplating on how to fade clothes especially from white clothes and lighter color clothes from dye transfer stain include:

• Use bleaches.

The length of the bleaching process differs according to the material of the cloth. However, experts hint that a perfect fading process should be within a quarter an hour range. When using bleaches, you must get the one that suits your cloth material. For example, chlorine is a laundry bleach that is precisely meant for colorfast or white washables.

• Use hydrogen peroxide.

Mix a 1:1 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water into a tub. You can soak the garment for 30-60 minutes or until the color fades. Rewash a few times before letting it air dry.

Don’t overstuff clothes in one wash. (Photo Credit: Element Envato)

Extra Tips for Preventing Clothes From Bleeding or Fading

Aside from the tips mentioned above, there are more small tips to keep in mind and practice when trying to avoid laundry disasters and stop color bleeding and fading.

• Bank On The Natural Sunlight

Shun the dryer and instead bank on the natural sunlight. However, if this is done outside in direct sunlight, clothes must be picked immediately to avoid the sunstrokes that seriously impact fading.

• Don’t Overstuff In One Wash

Don’t overstuff your washing machine. This increases friction and agitation which causes colors to bleed and fade. Zippers should remain closed to lessen the impact of friction. 

• Turn Your Clothes Inside Out When Washing

During washing, turn the clothes inside out to prevent fading on the outer side to reduce friction on the colored side. 

• Use Cold Water

Always opt for washing clothes in cold water. Warm or hot water can relax the fibers and allow the colors to bleed more easily

Conclusions

Even though cloth bleeding may be inevitable due to the myriad reasons. One can take precautions and apply the above tips to suit their needs so that the cloth serves them for as long as possible. If you've had success with these methods, be sure to leave them in the comments!