How to Get Bleach Out of Clothes

Co-authored by Kamel Almani

Last Updated: June 28, 2022 References

Whether you have accidentally spilled bleach on your favorite jeans, or your white t-shirt has gone yellow, we have all suffered the consequences of a bleach disaster! Although your garment might not be able to be restored to its original glory, it is possible to correct the damage significantly so that you are able to keep wearing it. Read on for a complete guide to treating bleach stains!

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Trying Natural Remedies First

1
Neutralize the bleach with a baking soda paste. Before you can treat the stain, you need to make sure the bleach won’t create a hole in the fabric. Mix together 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water to create a thick paste.^{[1]
X
Research source} Apply the paste onto the bleach-stained area with a toothbrush or paper towel. Let the paste sit until it dries, then gently brush it off.
- After this step, you can start restoring color back to your garment.
2
Use lemon juice for the most gentle treatment. If you are able to get the stain out this way, you will be using the mildest approach and be able to completely avoid using any chemical products. In a large bucket or basin, add the garment to ¼ cup of lemon juice and 1 gallon of boiling water, allow the garment to soak for 1-2 hours then ring the garment out as much as you can.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- Let the garment dry fully in the sun before wearing it again.
Advertisement
3
Try vinegar as another chemical-free option. As vinegar contains acetic acid, it helps to dissolve the bleach and peel away the damaged fabric. Buy white vinegar from your local store and completely saturate the stain in vinegar. Rinse the garment in cold water once done and then repeat if necessary.^{[3]
X
Research source}
- Prior to treating the garment with vinegar, rinse the garment in cold water to remove any of the residual bleach. Mixing bleach with vinegar can release toxins.
- Use limited quantities when using vinegar on cotton garments, as in time, vinegar will ruin cotton fabrics.^{[4]
  X
  Research source}
4
Use a patch to cover up the problem. Rather than trying to remove the stain, another option is to cover the stain. Depending on where the stain is, a cleverly placed patch or your favorite badge could do the trick! You could even do a crochet pattern.^{[5]
X
Research source}

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Using Chemical Treatments

1
Try mild Borax before using anything stronger. Avoid starting with something really harsh. Add 1–2 tablespoons (14.8–29.6 ml) of Borax, which you can find at most supermarkets, to 2 cups of water and add it to your washer cycle.^{[6]
X
Research source}
2
Use alcohol to neutralize the color. Get a cotton ball and saturate it in rubbing alcohol, such. Start to rub the stain gently with the cotton ball. Don’t be alarmed when you start to see the color run. As you continue to swab the area, the color from the garment will start to cover over the bleached area.^{[7]
X
Research source}
- Rinse the garment thoroughly in water once finished. You can leave your garment to dry in the sun or put it in the dryer.
3
Use Sodium Thiosulfate before stains get worse. This works great as an immediate spot treatment before your stain spreads. Dip a clean, white cloth, such as a flannel, into Sodium Thiosulfate and blot the stain repeatedly until you see it begin to disappear. Once the garment is saturated, rinse in cold water and repeat the process until you are satisfied with the results.^{[8]
X
Research source}
- This method, which is similar to using alcohol, but much stronger, aims to restore fabrics damaged by bleach and is known as the "photographic fixer."^{[9]
  X
  Research source}

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Experimenting with Color Correcting

1
Use a permanent marker to fill in the stain. Find one that matches your garment exactly, otherwise, it will stand out as much as the stain itself! Cover over the stain with the marker, and set it with an iron, or put it in the dryer for a few minutes to make sure the ink doesn't run.^{[10]
X
Research source}
- Always test the marker on a rag or old garment first to ensure you have chosen the appropriate color.
- This works great for black and dark colors, but not so well for whites and light and bright colors.
2
Try the sun-bleaching method to lighten clothes naturally. Sometimes it can be better to work with the stain rather than against it. Begin by washing the garment and placing it outside in direct sunlight. Wait several hours and repeat the process if required.
- Ultraviolet rays are bleaching your garment, ensure the garment is placed flat with no wrinkles. You want it to lighten evenly.
- This method won’t make the stain go away fully, but it will help to lighten it.^{[11]
  X
  Research source}
3
Bleach the whole garment as a last resort. It is a slightly more drastic measure but can be very effective to change the color of the rest of the garment. Add your garment to a large bucket or basin of water, then add a capful of bleach. Swirl the garment around in the bleach mixture until your desired color is reached, adding more bleach as required. Rinse the garment and then allow it to soak for half an hour in a bucket or basin of cold water and hydrogen peroxide.^{[12]
X
Research source}
- Add 50 grams of hydrogen peroxide to every 4-5 liters of water.
- Treat bleaching the whole garment as a final option once you have tried natural remedies and less invasive chemical options.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Preventing Future Stains

1
Replace your bleach with something milder. Standard bleach is harsh on clothes, a milder treatment will still get great results. Bleach is not the best product for household use and is designed more for the commercial sector. Try a milder version such as Borax or Oxygen bleach for home use.^{[13]
X
Research source}
2
Adopt natural alternatives for a better environment. Consider the negative effects bleach has on the environment by choosing natural remedies. Opt for “sun-bleaching” or by adding ½ a cup of lemon juice to your whites wash cycle.^{[14]
X
Research source}
3
Clean your washer to remove bleach residue. Although bleach is known for it’s cleaning properties, it might actually be causing stains, rather than helping to clean your clothes. If you have used bleach in your built-in bleach dispenser in your washer, make sure you clean this out before putting your next load on. Put your washer on a quick rinse cycle after doing a load where you have added bleach to ensure it is free from any built-up product.^{[15]
X
Research source}

Expert Q&A

Question

Is there any way to get rid of a bleach stain?

Kamel Almani
Laundry & Cleaning Specialist
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.

Kamel Almani

Laundry & Cleaning Specialist

Expert Answer

Bleach stains are permanent, but you may be able to re-dye the fabric back to its original color.
Question

Can you soak clothes in bleach overnight?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

You can, but make sure it’s a dilute or gentle bleach solution so that you don’t damage your clothes.
Question

What happens to gray when you bleach it?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Gray dyes, as well as browns, often turn pink when you bleach them. However, it may depend on the kind of dye that was used in your item.

Warnings

Keep bleach and chemicals to remove bleach out of reach of children and pets.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
Bleach is harsh on the skin. Make sure you sure you wear gloves and wear an apron so that you don’t damage your clothes.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1