Color transfer occurs when you wash clothes without sorting them. Fortunately, clothes can be saved if you act in time. Here are some solutions for clothes stained with colors from other clothes, how to use them and which substances to apply for cleaning. More details and tips in the article.
Most often, white clothes are those that are stained with other colors from other clothes during a wash cycle.
First of all, it is very important to sort clothes by color and fabric before washing. Secondly, speaking of color transfer, you should know that this phenomenon occurs because of certain types of dyes that are used on clothes.
Here’s everything you need to know and what solutions to use to save stained clothes.
Why color transfer occurs
Color transfer between clothes occurs mainly because of the dyes used to make fabrics and how they react to water and detergents.
Essentially, dye molecules are not completely fixed to textile fibers and when exposed to water and heat, they can migrate from one fabric to another.
The fabrics most prone to such color transfer are those made from:
- Cotton: absorbs water well, but also dyes well;
- Viscose: an absorbent and porous fabric, prone to color absorption;
- Wool: can absorb dyes if washed at improper temperatures;
- Polyester: although less susceptible to staining, strong colors applied on polyester can “bleed” under high temperatures.
The main causes of color transfer include:
High water temperature: at high temperatures, paint tends to dissolve and migrate more easily.
Long wash cycle: an extended wash cycle allows the dye to release and be absorbed by other clothes.
Detergent: some heavy-duty detergents can weaken the dye’s hold on the fabric and promote transfer to other fabrics.
Color combination: intense colors, such as red, dark blue and violet, tend to stain more easily, especially when washed with whites.
White clothes stained pink in the wash
If you’ve had a color transfer and, for example, your white clothes have been stained pink, here’s what you can try to get your clothes back to their original color. The tricks are also useful for transferring color to other types of clothes.
Oxygen-based bleach
Fill a large container with cold water and add a small amount of oxygen bleach. Be sure to follow the instructions on the label. Let the clothes soak for a few hours, then wash them again.
Oxygen-based bleach is gentler and safer for delicate textiles than chlorine bleach.
Baking soda and vinegar
If pink stains remain on your clothes, you can try a combination of baking soda and white vinegar for an extra cleaning and whitening effect.
Add two tablespoons of baking soda to the detergent compartment and one cup of white vinegar to the conditioner compartment. Wash clothes on a gentle cycle without adding other detergents
Color removal products
There are products on the market specifically designed to remove accidentally transferred colors, such as Dr. Beckmann’s solution. These products are effective, but should be used with caution and only on clothes that are not sensitive to the action of a commercial solution with strong chemical ingredients.
Ammonia and liquid detergent
For more stubborn stains, you can try preparing a solution of one part ammonia and one part liquid detergent mixed with cold water.
Soak the stain for a few minutes, then wash your clothes on a regular cycle.
But be careful not to use this solution with chlorine bleach as it can produce toxic fumes
Other tricks to save stained clothes
If the solutions already outlined don’t produce visible effects, there are a few other ways you can try to get color stains out of your clothes.
Aspirin can dissolve color molecules in fabrics. Dissolve a couple of aspirin tablets in a bowl of warm water and leave the stained coat in this solution for a few hours. Then wash as usual.
Lemon juice as a natural solution can help remove stains. Soak your coat in warm water mixed with lemon juice and leave for a few hours. You can also rub the stain directly with lemon juice. Finally, rinse and wash as usual.
A universal method, chlorine bleach is useful and practical to use to stop color transfer for white clothes only.
Chlorine-based bleach should be used as a last resort, taking great care to follow the instructions. Chlorine is a very strong bleaching and cleaning agent, it can damage fabric, and if used improperly can be toxic and cause burns.
How to prevent color transfer between clothes
Finally, we’ve prepared a few more practical tips you can apply when washing white and colored clothes. These methods will help prevent color transfer during washing.
Separate clothes by color: Wash white clothes separately from colored clothes.
Use anti-transfer wipes: These are special wipes that absorb the dye released from clothes during washing.
Wash your new clothes separately: The first few washes of new clothes should be done separately, especially if they are in more intense colors.
Short wash cycles and low temperatures: Temperature and duration have a direct influence on color transfer, so opt for a shorter wash.
