Indigo denim dye, Does it ever stop rubbing off?

I know, I know. This topic has been on the forum before and I did read the 2 posts I found relating to dye rub off. However I wanted to ask owners of specifically indigo denim if it ever stops rub off even after vinegar soaking. I have just bought 2 new pairs of dark jeans and fortunately I have only taken the tags off one pair. On first wear of the other pair today they rubbed off on my new converse, on the white rubber. Thankfully I was able to clean it off, but now I'm doubtful as to whether I want to keep the other pair if it will be problematic. I have read this article that I found : http://www.pburch.net/dyeing/FAQ/settingdye.shtml and It mentions Indigo dye, which is what's used on my new jeans and it doesn't exactly fill me with confidence. I think I should return the second pair. What do you think?
PS I had a soak in the bath today and when I was shaving my legs blue dye came off too

PPS. I meant to say that I haven't soaked them in vinegar yet, but I have popped them in the wash to see if it helps.

10 years ago

Kristin L

Veteran

Try the vinegar soak. Have you tried washing it with salt? That's why I remember us doing with tie dyed shirts when I was at camp.

Thistle

I would try the vinegar soak and the salt bath ont he pair you already have worn. If it doesn't work, I would take the second pair back. I love dark dyed jeans, but I am not willing to ruin other clothes, or worse yet, a friend's sofa, because of my jeans.

Hil

(website)

That happened to me once... sitting on a friend's slipcover sofa in new indigo jeans and leaving my imprint behind me... *blush*

Anonymous

The first wash I find gets a lot of the overdye out.

Thank you ladies. I may try washing them again in a vinegar solution. The article I linked to specifically mentions Indigo and says that if correct dying process isn't used then something callled 'dry crocking' can happen at any time; meaning that when the jeans are dry the dye can just rub on things and leave colour behind. It's the first time that I've had jeans like that and It annoys me because it is a specific style and make of jean that I have had before; except the fabric used now is 97% cotton and 3% elastane and the previous pair was a cotton/ poly elastane blend with a different dye. Why change something that was fine as it was?

ElleH

I think I read that indigo doesn't get "set" with salt or vinegar. The more you wash them the less it will happen but I don't know if it ever completely goes away on dark wash jeans. I am ok wearing them with white clothing but avoid contact with leather or suede that isn't black.

texstyle

It can also turn the inside of your dryer blue (my DH dried his on regular heat :-()

I've almost sworn off dark blue jeans due to this. It's certainly not worth ruining a bunch of other clothes. And what does the dye do to US when our skin absorbs it. I don't think I want to know.

Suz

Sigh. I have this problem, too. My J Crew jeans dyed my new white Cons! I am hoping I will be able to get the stains off, or at least reduced. Grumble.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

Zap has a great solution - something about using dye seal. PM her, perhaps.

Thanks everyone. Angie, I might do that thanks.

By the way, I also turned my bathroom sink pink not so long ago when I was trying the vinegar trick with a neon dyed blouse from the Gap. So use a bucket if you do this. Luckily it did come off after a lot of stressing over it, DH came home and suggested CLR (calcium, lime and rust remover) and it seemed to do the trick. The dye actually had stuck to the mineral deposits, not really embedded into the porcelain.

Irene

I have a rather new pair of indigo jeans. The first two times I wore them people would worry about the color of my hands. One of my little quirks is rubbing my hands between my thighs (not crotch lol) when they are cold, which is almost always. They became a bluish unhealthy color and I had to wash them a lot of times. Fortunately the ink started to wear off by third or forth wash. Didn't try any special products, just washed with other dark clothing. They did dye my converses but they are not the real brand (aka very cheap) so I'm not that bothered. I guess I'll try clean them one of these days...

rosie

Member

I have avoided buying dark jeans because of this problem of rubbing off on clothes and especially my hands, it drives me crazy to see my hands looking dirty. I just bought a pair and was planning on washing them once before wearing them to see if I could get 'extra' dye out. I usually wash in cold water, does it make a difference if the water is cold or warm? Does it help get extra dye out with one or the other?

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

I've had jeans that have tinted my thighs blue the first couple times I wore them, but fortunately it washed off in the shower! I've never had any that continued to do it after a few launderings.

Gosh, this is a bit of an old thread re-surfaced, but coincidentally I can update that I pre-washed my jeans on their own in a reasonably warm wash with my usual soap powder prior to wearing. I still had a bit of rub off after though, as I noticed a slight colour on my legs. I think it is definitely going to get a lot less. I may try pre-washing my second pair (as yet un-worn) without turning them inside out.

April

Ugh -- I had a pair of neutral-colored suede sneakers ruined by this, as well as a pair of light-colored leather oxfords. It took me a while to figure out what was going on, since the color on the shoes wasn't obviously blue. But nobody's shoes get huge dark streaks across the tops from typical wear.

I'll be watching this thread with interest.

carter

Imogen's post today is on how to keep dark denim dark. Same thing as keeping the the dye from rubbing off?? She says soak in one cup of salt in a bucket of water (ignore her typo in the graphic--read the text below). Never tried this, so don't know if it helps or not. http://www.insideoutstyleblog......-dark.html

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