You open the machine door, and horror of horrors, everything has turned blue. Worse still, you spill some blue ink or paint on your favorite white T - it’s a nightmare.
In the world of color bleed, blue disasters are among the most common, with dye transfer from new denim especially common.
Blue dyes have different constituents to other colors, so treating that specific color and the individual fabric is vital. This is not one size fits all.
This quick read explains everything you need to know about your blue dye disaster and how to remove that stain.
What Causes Blue Dye Stains on Clothes?
Blue dye stains typically come from other clothes, with jeans being a popular culprit. However, blue dye can also come from accidents with ink.
Will Blue Dye Come Out of Clothes?
Dyes are not made equal. Some colors penetrate more deeply into the fabric than others, and unfortunately, blue is one of the worst offenders, with very strong color fastness.
The situation is made more complicated because different materials require different stain removal treatments.
Did you know that laundry pod liquids are deliberately stained blue with dyes? If you use them at low temperatures, the liquid doesn’t disperse properly and can leave blue detergent marks on pale or white garments.
Let’s look at a specific fresh blue stain problem in easy steps: ink on a white T. If you can deal with that, you can manage anything!
How To Get Blue Dye Out of Clothes in 6 Steps
1. Act Quickly
Blot away any excess ink using a paper towel or a clean cloth. You may need multiple cloths to absorb the ink and avoid transferring it back onto the garment. Resist the temptation to rub the mark, as this will only push the dye deeper into the fabric’s fibers.
2. Rinse the Stain
Rinse the stained area under cold running water. Turn the garment over so the water flows through the back and pushes the dye out of the front.
Never use hot water, as heat will set the stain.
3. Treat the Stain
A proprietary stain treatment will help lift the mark before you launder the T.
Oxygen bleach can help break down dye molecules, removing them from the fabric. Dab some onto the stain and work it into the fabric with a clean sponge or cloth.
Oxygen bleach is different from traditional chlorine bleach. It’s less pungent and has a gentler cleaning action, making it suitable for fabric. Even so, patch test a hidden area on the garment before you use it.
Another home remedy is a mix of white vinegar and water in equal parts. Dab the solution onto the T and gently blot with a clean cloth. White vinegar is particularly effective at neutralizing and removing dye stains.
Baking soda mixed with water to make a paste works well on natural fabrics like linen or cotton.
Apply the paste to the stain and leave for 5-10 minutes. Then rinse the T thoroughly in cold water.
With white vinegar and baking soda home remedies, you can keep repeating the process until the stain is gone.
4. Presoak and Wash with Laundry Detergent Sheets
One problem with stain treatments, especially commercial products, is that they can be too strong on delicate fabrics. Vigorous rubbing will also damage the lace, satin, silk, or wool fibers.
An alternative is to soak your T in cold water with a laundry detergent sheet.
Our laundry detergent sheets work in hot and cold temperatures and have a powerful stain-fighting formula. You’ll be so impressed with the results that you should consider them for all your laundry!
Our ingredients don’t include harmful chemicals, so you won’t find parabens, brighteners, or that dreaded dye in Freddie laundry sheets.
At Freddie, our mantra is powerful cleaning with kindness to people and the environment; the two things are not mutually exclusive.
5. Wash the Garment in Your Machine
If you use laundry detergent sheets, the stain-removal process will continue in the machine. Just remember to choose a cool wash cycle and check the care label if in doubt; it’s a legal requirement to include washing instructions on all clothing.
Don’t be tempted to wash warmer; this will only set the stain more firmly.
6. Dry your T
Once the stain has gone - remember you can repeat stain removal, presoaking, and machine washing more than once; air-dry the T away from direct sunlight.
Tips for Preventing Blue Transfer Stains
- Always divide your washing, and don’t wash dark colors like blue, red, or black with light or white fabrics
- Wash garments at the correct temperature according to the care label
- Wash clothes inside out to minimize the contact between blue dye and other fabrics
- Use color catcher sheets in the wash to capture any loose dyes
- If you’ve hand-dyed a garment blue, then set the dye by adding distilled white vinegar or salt to the rinse water. Unfortunately, with commercially dyed clothing, this doesn’t always make a difference
- Wash new blue items like denims separately for several washes to remove any excess dye and ensure color fastness
Final Thoughts
Avoiding dye stains, especially tough-to-remove blue ones, is all about prevention. If you divide up washing and handle new blue items separately a few times, you should avoid disaster.
Removing dye stains isn’t all about using harsh, chemical products; it’s also not an option if the fabric is delicate, like silk or wool.
Freddie laundry sheets can help with presoaking and then laundering a stained item, with powerful enzymes to lift blue dyes. Wash and soak by hand and then run through your machine on a cool cycle - our laundry sheets can do it all!
Buy Freddie laundry detergent sheets for exceptional stain-busting results that are kinder to your clothes, body, and the planet.
