There are few laundry mishaps quite as frustrating as pulling your items out of the laundry to realize they've been accidentally dyed. New pairs of jeans or brightly colored garments can transfer dye to other items in the wash. Luckily, our laundry pros have tips on how to remove dye stains from fabric, carpet, and upholstery.
Accidental dye transfer is a common laundry mishap. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn't mean your favorite shirt or set of sheets is ruined. With the right methods and supplies, you can get rid of those telltale streaks and splotches and restore your items to their former glory. The good news is you probably already have a few of the items you'll need on hand. White vinegar, dish soap, and hydrogen peroxide can be surprisingly effective when it comes to tackling dye stains.
Carolyn Forté, former executive director of the Home Care & Cleaning Lab, shared her advice for tackling dye stains on different materials. Before you toss your items in the trash, read up on the best ways to remove dye stains from clothes, carpet, and upholstery. If you're looking for tips on tackling other laundry messes, read up on how to remove sweat stains, ink stains, sunscreen stains, and blood stains out of clothing.
How to Remove Dye Stains From Fabric
This solution works for both colorfast and white washable fabrics, Forte says. Start by mixing four gallons of the hottest water that's safe for the fabric with one packet of Carbona Color Run Remover. Make sure the remover is fully dissolved. If the whole load has turned pink, you can use multiple packets depending on the amount of clothes.
Add the dye-stained items to the mix and soak, stirring occasionally, until the unwanted color lifts. Rinse thoroughly in warm water. For stubborn dyes, you can repeat that process as necessary. Follow up by laundering.
How to Remove Dye Stains From Upholstery
To save your sofa or chair, mix one tablespoon of dishwashing liquid and one tablespoon of white vinegar with two cups of cool water.
Using a clean, white cloth, sponge the stain with the detergent-vinegar solution. Leave it on the stain for at least 30 minutes, blotting every five minutes with the cloth and more solution. You can use your phone timer to keep track. Then sponge with cool water and blot until the liquid is absorbed.
Next, sponge the mark with rubbing alcohol and blot to remove the stain. Sponge with more cold water and keep blotting.
If the stain remains, mix one teaspoon of dishwashing liquid and one tablespoon of ammonia with two cups of cool water. Sponge the stain with the detergent-ammonia solution. Leave it on for at least 30 minutes, blotting every five minutes with a clean, white cloth and more solution. Finally, sponge with cold water and blot dry.
Still not working? Dab the stain with a cotton swab dipped in hydrogen peroxide. "Hydrogen peroxide acts like an all-fabric, color-safe bleach, so it’s worth a try," Forte says. "Just be sure to test it for safety on a hidden part of the fabric or carpet before applying it to the stain."
⚠️ Never mix chlorine bleach and ammonia. The resulting fumes are hazardous. ⚠️
How to Remove Dye Stains From Carpet
First, mix one tablespoon of dishwashing liquid, like Dawn, and one tablespoon of white vinegar with two cups of warm water. Using a clean, white cloth, sponge the stain with the detergent-vinegar solution, blotting frequently. Flush with clear water and blot until the liquid is absorbed.
Then, sponge with rubbing alcohol and blot some more to lift the stain. Finish up by sponging with plain, cold water and blotting until the liquid is absorbed.
If the spot is stubborn, use the same detergent-ammonia solution that you would for upholstery, letting it sit on the stain for at least 30 minutes and blotting every five minutes with a clean, white cloth and more solution. Then sponge with cold water and blot dry. A cotton swab dipped in hydrogen peroxide can also help as a last resort.
Caroline is a writer and editor with almost a decade of experience. From 2015 to 2019, she held various editorial positions at Good Housekeeping, including as health editor, covering nutrition, fitness, wellness, and other lifestyle news. She's a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism and dreams of the day Northwestern will go back to the Rose Bowl.
