Prep first
Before you start
- Rinse a fresh splash with plenty of water right away.
- Expect to hide the spot rather than remove it, since lost color doesn't come back.
- Check the fiber before anything else; wool, silk, mohair, leather and spandex can't take more bleach.
A bleach spot on colored clothes isn't a stain you can lift, because the bleach has taken the color out of the fabric. Chlorine bleach changes the dye, so that color loss can't be reversed, and benzoyl peroxide in acne medicines does the same. Old or new, the lighter area stays.
For bleach stains on colored clothes, start by checking whether the garment is black or another color, since the fix changes with the shade. Black clothing usually looks best with a matching fabric marker, while other colors can try an oxygen-based color booster to even things out. Test whatever you use on a hidden seam, and stop if the fabric starts to fade more.
Before you start
What colored clothes can take
Safe to use3
- Water
- Soaking
- Enzyme cleaners
Use with care6
- Hot water
- Chlorine bleach
- Oxygen bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
Avoid1
- Heat, once the stain is out
4 items
What you'll need
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- Plain water or a rinse cycleStops the bleach from taking out more color.
- Black permanent markerCovers small light spots on black clothing.
- Fabric marker or felt pen in a matching shadeCovers spots on other colors; test the shade before you use it.
- Chlorine bleach (opens Amazon)
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5 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 5
Rinse the spot right away
Rinse the spot thoroughly with water, or run the garment through a rinse cycle. Doing it quickly keeps the bleach from working deeper into the fabric.
Careful. Don't add ammonia, vinegar, rubbing alcohol or rust removers to cancel the bleach; toxic gas can form.
Step 2 of 5
Check the fiber before you choose a fix
Read the care label and work out what the fabric is made of. If it's wool, silk, mohair, leather or spandex, camouflage is the only option. If you can't tell, treat it as one of those and use the marker method.
Careful. Don't put more chlorine bleach on wool, silk, mohair, leather or spandex.
Step 3 of 5
Let the spot dry and look at it
Let the spot dry, then look at it in daylight, where the true color shows best. The light area is permanent color loss, and discoloration from regular bleach doesn't come back.
Careful. Don't put the garment in the dryer or iron it; heat sets the stain and can make it impossible to remove.
Step 4 of 5
Match the color with a marker
For black clothing, use a black permanent marker. For other colors, choose a fabric marker or felt pen in the closest shade, and take the garment to an art-supply store to test colors before you commit.
Tip. Keep the pen somewhere dry so it's ready for touch-ups.
Step 5 of 5
Color in the spot
Fill in a small spot with the marker, following the edges of the light area so the ink stays inside it. Reapply the ink as it fades, since the spot will show again over time.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for bleach spots on colored clothes
Look for an oxygen-based, all-fabric bleach labeled for colors, and test it on a hidden area before the wash. Skip any product that isn't safe for colorfast items.
Utopia Kitchen White Flour Sack Towels
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on colored clothes, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light before using any heat. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
Heavy buildup usually takes more than one round.
Heavy or long-standing buildup →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
A rinse has done its job when the spot stops getting lighter. If it keeps fading after you've rinsed, there's still bleach in the fabric, so rinse it again before you pick up the marker.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your colored clothes
Oxygen-based color booster
A color booster can't bring back a bleach spot, but it can be a gentler choice for the rest of your colored laundry. Oxygen-based all-fabric products are the gentler option for colors, so they're the ones to look for.
Only use it on colorfast fabric, and test a hidden area first; if the color changes, stop. Keep it away from wool, silk and leather, and add it to the wash as the label directs rather than to the spot.
Black clothing
Black clothing is the easiest case, because a black permanent marker matches the fabric well. Color in the light area with small strokes, following the existing edges of the spot.
Reapply the marker as the ink fades, and keep it for touch-ups. Test the marker on a hidden area first so you know how it takes to the fabric.
Other colors
For colors other than black, the marker has to match the shade, which is the hard part. Bring the garment to an art-supply store and test colors there before you buy a pen.
Use a fabric marker or felt pen for the closest match, and keep it for touch-ups. If no shade is close, work in small strokes so the patch blends in rather than stands out.
Cotton canvas sneakers
Canvas with several spots is the one case where the color can be evened out instead of hidden. Cotton canvas can take the evening-out method only if it's colorfast, its care label allows it, and it passes a bleachability test on a hidden spot.
If it doesn't pass or the label rules it out, stick to marker camouflage on each spot. The evening-out method is covered in the set-in section below.
Wool, silk and delicate fabrics
These fabrics should never get more chlorine bleach, so skip any evening-out. Camouflage with a marker is the only fix, and a hidden-area test with the marker comes first.
If the care label calls for dry cleaning, take the garment to a cleaner rather than trying a home fix.
Heavy or long-standing buildup
A bleach spot is permanent whether it's fresh or old, because the dye is gone either way. Waiting doesn't make it worse, but it won't get better either.
If the garment has already been through the dryer, the heat has set the spot in place, so the fix is still camouflage. If new bleach spots keep appearing on darks, check the washer's liquid-bleach dispenser, which may be carrying bleach into the load.
On colorfast cotton canvas, such as sneakers with several spots, you can even out the color instead. Mix 2 teaspoons of disinfecting bleach into 1/4 cup water and apply it over the whole surface, then wait a minute or two.
Do this only after the garment is fully rinsed, wash in the hottest water the care label allows with detergent on a short cycle, and air-dry. Never use it on the fibers the fabric check ruled out.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on bleach spots on colored clothes?
Most household remedies can't bring back lost color, so a bleach spot is mostly a matter of hiding it. A few are risky with bleach or on colored fabric, so very little is worth trying.
Skip4Avoid2
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't expect the color to come back.
Lost dye can't be reversed, and no remedy or repeat wash will restore it. Scrubbing and re-treating the spot with more bleach only adds damage.
Don't stack removers without rinsing.
Rinse thoroughly between any two removers, and keep bleach and ammonia stored apart so they can't spill together. Stacking products on one spot turns a small patch into a bigger problem.
Don't leave chlorine solution on the fabric too long.
Chlorine bleach solution should sit no more than two minutes on the fabric, so time it. Keep metal spoons and metal containers away from bleach as well.
When to call a professional
Take dry-clean-only items to a professional dry cleaner promptly, and tell them the fiber content and the stain. Take washable items too if the spot covers a large area, the item is bulky, or the fabric is fragile. Leather and fur trim should go to a cleaner who specializes in them.
Questions
Can you remove a bleach spot from colored clothes?
No, not completely. Bleach takes the dye out, and lost color doesn't come back. Rinse the spot to stop it spreading, then hide the light area with a matching marker.
Does an oxygen color booster fix a bleach spot?
No. Oxygen-based products can't restore lost color. They're a gentler option for the wash on colorfast items, and you should test a hidden area first.
Can I use vinegar to neutralize bleach?
No. Rinse the spot with plain water instead, and leave vinegar out of this fix altogether. It may also weaken or change the color of cotton.
What marker works best on black clothes?
A black permanent marker is the best match for black fabric. Fill in small spots and reapply it as the ink fades.
Can I put bleached clothes in the dryer?
Not until you've decided on a fix. Heat sets the stain and can make it impossible to remove, so air-dry the garment first.
Can bleach spots on wool or silk be fixed?
Not with more bleach. Wool, silk, mohair, leather and spandex should never get chlorine bleach, so camouflage with a marker is the safest option.
Should I take bleached clothes to a dry cleaner?
Yes, if the item is dry-clean-only, or if the spot is large or the fabric is fragile. Tell them the fiber content and the stain so they can choose the right approach.
Bleach Spots on other materials
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.