If you just finished dying your hair and happened to get one of your favorite clothes stained with the dye, don’t worry. We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of over 8 ways to get hair dye out of clothes. To understand how to get rid of hair dye, you need to understand how they work.
A dye is a substance that gives color to any material, like textiles, papers, leather, and even hair. It comes in different tints, tones, and shades of color that cannot be removed easily, whether by washing, heat, or light. Dyes come in liquid or powder form and can blend with other materials.
Most of the materials used to produce bags, papers, clothes, and shoes undergo the dyeing process. Note that dyes are of two types – synthetic dye and natural dye.
7 Ways to Get Hair Dye Out of Clothes
Notwithstanding whether the dye stain on your cloth is due to color bleeding of other fabrics during laundry or is due to a hair color done at home. The truth is you’ll still have difficulty getting rid of the stain.
However, some ways can make the stain removal process much easier. Note that the process can be tasking depending on the method you choose to follow.
1. Use Chlorine Bleach
Chlorine bleach is often used for laundry and is one of the best and recommended methods to remove stubborn stains such as hair dye.
However, it is important that you check the care label instructions on your clothes every time you use chlorine bleach. Make sure that it can withstand the bleaching properties of the Bleach. Also, avoid using chlorine-based bleach on your colored clothes.
Follow these easy steps to remove the dye from your clothes.
- Dilute a tablespoonful of chlorine bleach in at least 4 cups of water. Ensure you mix them well to dilute the bleach ultimately.
- After creating the bleach solution, soak the stained clothes for at least ten minutes. Make sure not to oversoak it as it can cause damage to the fabric.
- After soaking, rinse the soaked clothes until you squeeze out the excess solution.
- Finish the process by putting it in the washer and letting it spin in a regular cycle. After washing, allow it to dry.
2. Use Hair Spray
There’s a tendency that while your hair dye is still on your wet hair, it can drip off onto your clothes. The hair spray is one of the go-to quick solutions to get rid of the stubborn dye stain from your dress.
Follow these easy steps to help you remove dye stains from your clothes:
- Ensure that you wring out all the excess dye with running water.
- Keep spraying the stained area with hair spray and blot it with a cloth or paper towel. The paper towel or cloth will absorb both the surplus dye and hairspray.
- Repeat the last step and allow it to sit overnight without removing the paper towel used for blotting.
- Rinse well with water and throw it into the washer. Then, set the washer to spin in a regular cycle. After washing, let it dry.
3. Use Ammonia
Unlike chlorine bleach, Ammonia can be used on colored clothes. It is a recommended household remedy that is also good at removing stains on your clothes. However, mixing Ammonia with bleach can cause poisonous fumes.
Below are steps to get rid of dye stains on clothes:
- Dilute ¼ cup of Ammonia in four cups of tap water. Note that depending on the size of the stain, you may have to increase the amount of Ammonia and water to be used.
- Soak the stained clothes for at least half an hour in a bowl filled with ammonia solution.
- After soaking, rinse the affected clothes in running water thoroughly.
- Throw the clothes in a washer and set them in a regular cycle. After washing, hang it to dry.
4. Use Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is not only used to treat wounds but can also be used to remove dye stains on your clothes.
Follow these easy steps to help remove the dye stain from your clothes.
- Place the cloth in a container and pour at least 3% hydrogen peroxide directly onto the stain. Leave it and let it soak overnight.
- Squeeze excess hydrogen peroxide from the clothes and rinse thoroughly with running water.
- Launder it in a regular cycle and hang it to dry after washing. Although this is optional, you may repeat the process if need be.
5. Use Soap and Vinegar Solution
One of the famous home remedies is the vinegar and soap solution. This solution is an excellent alternative to chlorine bleach but requires you to move fast, as time is essential in treating these stubborn stains.
Follow these easy steps to help remove the dye stain from your clothes.
- Create a vinegar and soap solution by diluting a tablespoon of white vinegar and a tablespoon of liquid soap in two cups of warm water.
- Fill the bowl or basin with the vinegar and soap solution and leave the clothes to soak overnight.
- Wring out the excess solution and rinse thoroughly with water.
- Launder the clothes in a regular setting cycle and dry them.
6. Use Rubbing Alcohol
Apart from being a first aid treatment for fresh wounds, rubbing alcohol can also be used as a dye stain remover on your clothes. However, the result may not be as good as the other solutions like bleach and Ammonia. Rubbing alcohol is only recommended if you are in a hurry or there is no available bleach or Ammonia or vinegar and soap.
Below are steps to follow to remove dye stains from clothes.
- Directly pour the rubbing alcohol onto the affected area until it is thoroughly wet.
- Wait for at least a minute before you blot stained areas using a paper towel or cloth to absorb the dyes.
- Then pour a significant amount of the rubbing alcohol into the bowl where the cloth is placed. Submerge the garment and let it soak overnight.
- Rinse the clothing thoroughly with running water and launder it in a “regular” cycle. Hang it and let it dry. You may repeat the process if needed.
7. Use Nail Polish Remover
Nail polish remover is only recommended in emergencies because it won’t give you the best results as in other ways.
See the easy steps to help remove the dye stain from your clothes.
- Ensure you place the garment in a bowl before directly pouring the nail polish remover onto the stained area.
- Allow it to soak overnight.
- As usual, rinse the stained garment thoroughly to wring out any excess solution.
- Wash the clothes in a regular cycle and then hang them to dry. You may repeat the process if the stain doesn’t disappear.
Conclusion
Regardless of whatever stain may appear on your clothes. Don’t panic, as there are different ways you could use to get rid of the stain, including dye stain. Get the necessary materials for the process, and you’re good to go!