How to Fix Bleach Stains on Your Clothes

Can you remove bleach from clothing?

Bleach stains are permanent, but you can try to restore the color. Laundry and cleaning specialist Kamel Almani says that “Bleach stains are permanent and cannot be removed.” This is because bleach strips the color from the fabric. However, you can neutralize and remove the excess bleach and restore the color that has been lost. Bleach contains active ingredients like sodium hypochlorite that break down the chemical bonds or dyes and pigments. The amount of damage depends on the type of fabric, the concentration of the bleach, and how long the fabric was exposed to the bleach. If the bleach stain remains after attempting the methods below, it might be best to seek professional help from a dry cleaner or fabric specialist to restore your piece of clothing.

Neutralizing the Bleach

Rinse the area with cold water and apply a baking soda paste. This neutralizes and removes the bleach so it doesn’t weaken the fabric and cause holes to form. Mix together 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water to create a thick paste and spread it evenly over the bleach-stained area with a toothbrush or paper towel. Let it dry, then brush the paste off gently.

Removing Bleach Stains from White Clothes

Rinse the item and soak it in lemon juice to remove yellow stains. Wash the fabric under the water to make sure all the bleach is completely gone. Pour or squeeze pure lemon juice onto the stained area and let it sit in the sun for a day. When you bring it inside, wash it as normal by hand or put it in the washing machine. Alternatively, add the garment to ⁄4 cup (59 mL) lemon juice and 1 gallon (3.8 L) of boiling water, allow it to soak for 1 to 2 hours, then ring it out. Wash as normal by hand or in the washing machine. If the yellow stain is still there, repeat this method or try a different method. Lemon juice contains ascorbic acid, which can neutralize all residual bleach and remove any yellow staining.

Alternatively, wash the fabric and apply hydrogen peroxide to the stain. Wash the area with cold water to dilute and remove any excess bleach. Mix 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of hydrogen peroxide in 1 cup (240 mL) of water. Dampen a clean cloth in the mixture and dab the stain. Let the mixture sit on the stain for 15 to 20 minutes, then rinse the fabric with cold water. Hydrogen peroxide can help remove yellow stains and restore the fabric’s white color. If the bleach stain is still there, use a bleach remover designed for white fabrics. Follow the instructions, and test it on a small, inconspicuous area first before applying to the stain.

Removing Bleach Stains from Black, Dark, or Colored Clothes

Dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and rub at the stain. Rinse the bleached area thoroughly with cold water. Pour a little bit of rubbing alcohol into a small bowl and dip a cotton swab or cotton ball in the mixture. Start at the outer edges of the bleach stain and work into the center to transfer the color of the fabric to the stain. The bleached area might still be slightly lighter than the other parts of the shirt, but this can help hide the stain.

Apply white vinegar or lemon juice and water to the stain if it’s still there. Rinse the stained area thoroughly with cold water to make sure all the bleach is removed. Spray or dab the shirt with a clean cloth dipped in a mixture of equal parts white distilled vinegar or lemon juice and warm water. Let it sit for a few minutes. Alternatively, wash the stain with a couple of drops of dish soap mixed in ⁄2 gallon (1.9 L) of warm water. Dip a clean cloth in the mixture and scrub the stain from the outer edges to the center.

Other Ways to Cover Up Bleach Stains

Dye the bleach-stained spot with fabric dye. Laundry and cleaning specialist Kamel Almani says that the best way to fix a bleach stain is to “re-dye the fabric.” Choose a fabric dye that matches the color of the clothing and follow the instructions on the bottle to dye the bleached area. The dyed spot might not look exactly the same as the rest of the garment, especially if the bleach stain is way lighter than the original color of the fabric.

Grab more bleach and turn your item into a bleach tie-dye creation. To tie dye your item using bleach, scrunch it up to create a spotty pattern or twirl it to make a spiral pattern. Place 5 to 15 rubber bands around the item to hold it together. Fill a bucket with warm water and a capful of bleach and place the item inside. Mix the liquid every 15 minutes to agitate it. Every 5 minutes, flip the item over so the bleach mixture covers as much of the outside of the garment as possible. After you’re happy with the color of the bleached areas, remove the item with tongs and place it in a bag or on a plastic sheet. Let it rest for a few minutes, then remove the rubber bands. Tumble dry the item on low in the dryer or hang it outside. Then your new tie-dyed item is ready to wear!

Cover up the problem with a cool iron-on patch. 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! Simply follow the instructions to iron the patch onto the item. If you can stitch, you can also sew a cool pattern over the bleach spot, like a heart or a smiley face.

Fill in the stain with a colored permanent fabric marker. This might work best for black or dark garments. Find a fabric marker that matches the color of your clothing, color in the stain, and put it in the dryer for a few minutes or iron over the area to make sure the ink doesn't run. Test the marker on a rag or old clothing item first to make sure you’ve chosen the appropriate color.

Bleach the whole garment as a last resort. Add your garment to a large bucket of water, then add a capful of bleach. Swirl the item around in the mixture until your desired color is reached, adding more bleach as required. Rinse the item and allow it to soak for 30 minutes in a bucket of 4 to 5 gallons (15 to 19 L) cold water and ⁄4 cup (59 mL) hydrogen peroxide. Read the label on the item to make sure it’s bleach-safe and wear rubber gloves before trying this method. For white clothes, use a bleach pen or whitening product that’s specifically formulated to target bleach stains.

Preventing Bleach Stains

Wear light clothes and gloves when you’re using bleach. Wearing white or light-colored clothing can help hide any accidental bleach stains. It’s also easier to remove bleach stains from white clothes than colored or dark clothing. Rubber gloves and eye goggles can help protect your skin and eyes from the bleach. In addition, make sure other laundry or fabrics are nowhere near the area where you’re using bleach to clean or do laundry to avoid staining.

Make sure all the care labels on your clothes say they’re bleach-safe. Bleach can help whiten and disinfect clothes and treat spot stains. However, using bleach on non-bleach-safe clothes can lead to staining and can weaken or damage the fabric fibers. Try to avoid pouring bleach directly on clothes. Dilute the bleach with water, following the instructions on the product’s label. Washing colored clothes with bleach can cause fading or discoloration. When washing colored clothes, only use detergents containing color-safe bleach. Sort your laundry by color and fabric type to make sure that white clothes are separate from dark or colored garments.

Warn others in your home when you’re cleaning an area with bleach. That way, anyone in your household can avoid brushing up against surfaces cleaned with bleach or accidentally knock over bleach cleaning products. This can help prevent bleach stains from the beginning so you won’t have to worry about damage control.

Replace your bleach with a milder laundry alternative. Standard bleach can be harsh on clothes and cause more bleach stains than milder versions, like Borax or Oxygen bleach. Add the mild bleach directly to warm washer water before adding in the clothes. Lemon juice is a natural alternative to bleach. Just apply it directly to any stains before you place your items in the washing machine. Try to avoid pouring powdered bleach directly on wet clothes to avoid staining.

Clean your washer once a month to remove any bleach residue. If you put bleach in your built-in bleach dispenser in your washer, dip a toothbrush in a mixture of dish soap and water and scrub the dispenser. This can remove any excess dirt, grime, and bleach from the area before you start your next load. Put your washer on a quick rinse cycle after doing a load with bleach to make sure it’s free from any built-up product.