You’ve probably had this happen to you before. You’re doing your laundry and accidentally throw in a red shirt with your whites. A few minutes later, you have a load of pink clothes.
Or maybe you’re trying to dye your hair at home and end up with stained skin and a colorful bathroom. In both cases, the issue is fabric bleeding.
How To Stop Fabric From Bleeding?
Bleeding occurs when the color from the fabric rubs off onto other fabrics or surfaces. It’s most likely to happen with new clothing or fabric that hasn’t been washed yet.
The good news is that there are ways to prevent the fabric from bleeding, and we’re here to tell you all about them.
Reasons Why Fabric Bleeds
Before we get into how to stop the fabric from bleeding, let’s talk about why it happens in the first place. There are three main reasons for fabric bleeding:
- The dye isn’t set: This is most common with newly purchased clothing. When clothing is dyed at the factory, it isn’t always set correctly. As a result, the color can bleed when the dress is washed for the first time.
- The fabric is damaged: If the fabric is damaged, the fibers can separate, and the color can bleed. This can happen if clothing is old or has been through a lot of wear and tear.
- You’re using the wrong detergent: Believe it or not, some detergents can cause the fabric to bleed. If you’re using a too harsh detergent, it can break down the fibers in the fabric and cause the color to bleed.
Tips for Preventing Fabric Bleeding
Now that you know why fabric bleeds, let’s talk about how to stop it from happening. Here are some tips for preventing fabric bleeding:
- Read the care labels: Care labels are there for a reason! They’ll tell you everything you need to know about properly caring for your clothing so it doesn’t bleed. Be sure to read them before washing any new clothing items.
- Wash new clothing separately: To be safe, wash new items separately from your other clothes until you confirm they won’t bleed. This will help prevent any accidental stains on your other clothes.
- Use cold water: Hot water can cause the fabric to bleed, so be sure to use cold water when washing your clothes. Cold water will also help set the dye in newly purchased clothing items.
- Add salt to your wash: Believe it or not, it can help prevent the fabric from bleeding. Add 1/2 cup of salt to your wash cycle along with your regular detergent. The salt will help set the dye and prevent any accidental bleeding.
- Soak stained clothes in vinegar: If you accidentally get a stain on your clothes from another item of clothing, don’t panic! Soak the stained item of clothing in vinegar for 30 minutes before washing it as usual. The vinegar will help remove any residual color from the stained garment.
- Hand washes delicate items: To be extra safe, hand washes any delicate articles of clothing instead of machine washing them. This includes anything made with silk, wool, or other soft materials. Hand washing is always best when trying to avoid accidental staining or fading.
Fabric bleeding is a common issue that several different factors can cause. However, there are several ways that you can prevent it from happening!
Be sure to read care labels carefully, wash new clothing separately, use cold water, add salt to your wash cycle, soak stained clothes in vinegar, and hand wash any delicate items.
By following these tips, you can rest assured that your clothes will stay looking their best.
