Help! Denim dye rubbed off on white top. ETA got it out! - YouLookFab Forum

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Help! Denim dye rubbed off on white top. ETA got it out!

Elizabeth P

Veteran

I wore my new BR denim jacket today, and the dye has transferred onto my favourite Eileen fisher white linen top. What should I do? I could order some dye catchers (I don’t have any, they don’t appear to be easily found here but I can get some). Or can I wash it out? Use stain stick? Take it to a dry cleaner? Im terrified of setting it.

I have washing soda somewhere. I use it to clean silver, but I assume it’s also good for soaking clothes with....

I’m good! Got the dye out. I described my process in the thread. Yay!

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Dressing

21 replies

Latest reply was from

Anonymous

So sorry to hear that the dye has wrecked a shirt.
Shout dye catchers in wash is always a good thing. I use at least a half sheet on all colors when machine washing.Also turn all denim inside out.

You may want to hand rinse all new denim in 1/2 cup white vinegar and 2 tsp of salt to set dye using cold water.
There use to be a product that would remove coloring that bleed onto clothes but it worked so good they stopped making it years ago.
Someone said RIT dye company makes a dye removal product but I have never tried it or seen it for that matter.
Check “ the Laundress” site to see if they can advise on their questions and answers site.
Good luck

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Oh know!

Oxyclean is what I would try, but there are no guarantees.

How odd. I’ve worn the same new BR jacket with several white tops and no problem. I’m sorry. Rotten luck.

Jane

Veteran

I’ve not any suggestions but I’m grateful for you sharing this. I’ve the same jacket and I’m warned. I wish you well with getting out the colour - I would try oxyclean too.

Anonymous

Another fan of oxyclean. Don't be afraid to let it soak for an hour before washing. That works miracles for me.

Style Fan

Veteran

I would wash the jacket in vinegar and water. I have done that with dark wash jeans and it seemed to work.
Oxyclean sounds like a good idea for the top.
How sad.

Vix

Veteran

Hi Elizabeth --

Oh know, that sucks. In addition to other suggestions above re setting the jacket and removing the dye --

-- hairspray works well on ink pen stains so it may be worth a try
-- diluted lemon juice then time out in the sun (you can google for various ratios to try)

EF customer service may have other ideas too. Good luck!

Carla

Veteran

Oxyclean has worked for me - so, here's another endorsement.

lisaflex

Veteran

def do jacket in vinegar so this doesnt happen again

try some club soda on the stain first. i am not a fan of oxi clean any longer. i would try liquid biz...after the club soda has been rinsed out. and just do it on the spot - do not soak in either. hope this helps.

also - try a bit of water with plain old blue dawn and let it sit for 15 minutes rinse and wash with biz.

Helena

Veteran

Oxyclean is my go to, and I did get denim dye off my taupe booties with magic erasers. Good luck ... Sucks when that happens!

Marilyn

Veteran

I've always had good luck soaking in Oxyclean. My son had to wear white baseball pants for several years and it removed grass stains as well as ground in clay. I just fill a bucket with water and oxy and let it soak.

And yes to setting denim dye with vinegar. I actually use vinegar in the rinse cycle for every denim wash.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Success!!

I found a suggestion that I didn’t think could hurt, and I’d say the dye came out 95%. I’ll know when it dries. It appears to be totally wearable. Yay!

What I did was make a solution with 1 tablespoon of vinegar, 1 tablespoon of dish detergent, and 2 cups warm water. I used a white cloth and dabbed the solution on the stain, and blotted it with a dry cloth over and over. It got lighter and lighter. Then I figured what the heck, and stuck the whole top part of the top in the bowl and let it soak for a while. Then a wash in cold water, and voila! It’s hanging to dry at the moment.

Phew.

Thanks for all these suggestions. I really appreciate it. I felt sick when I saw my top when I got home!

Lisaflex, what is liquid biz? And why do you not like oxyclean? So many seem to swear by it.

lisaflex

Veteran

you will find BIZ in laundry aisle...it is a stain remover that works fabulously

i just dont think oxiclean works that well...of course, thats just my opinion. ive always had better luck with biz. even on whites.

Bijou

Veteran

This happened to me too with a favourite t-shirt. So glad that your beautiful top was not ruined.

Anonymous

I am so glad you got it out.

I have had very good luck with oxyclean, but I am always looking for other, even better, products. I'll see if I can find BIZ and try it.

Anonymous

I remember when BIZ was out in the 50s or early 60s. It was marketed as the best for getting “protein” stains like blood out. SALVO disks were new as both a whitener and non bleach alternative. Why can I remember that but not remember what I had for dinner last night. Scary.
Glad it worked- now we all have tools in our laundry arsenal

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Funny, I did what I did thinking I couldn't hurt it. And now I realize of course vinegar is used to set dye... why was it recommended to REMOVE the dye? Weird. I did see it recommended in various combos in more than one place.

Have to say I hate the idea of washing this jacket it to "set" the colour... I'm afraid it won't look as crisp afterwards. I feel I want to maintain the newness for as long as I can. But I hate the idea of restricted layers under it, so I guess I'll just bite the bullet.

JAileen

Veteran

I’m glad you got the blue off your top. That would have really upset me. I was thinking about vinegar and dye, and I couldn’t remember which was which, but apparently you use salt with cotton, when dyeing, and vinegar with wool or other animal fibers. I’ve dyed wool using KoolAid and it works pretty well because it’s acidic. But KoolAid doesn’t dye cotton because it’s not a protein fiber.

I found this interesting article which talks about the uselessness of using either salt or vinegar on fiber after the fact.

https://www.thespruce.com/set-.....ng-2146657

Colette

Veteran

Glad the color came out! And thanks for sharing your process.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Oh, I’m so glad you got the stain out. I know how awful that is!

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Thanks JAileen, that was an interesting article.

Anonymous

I love a happy ending. Yay!