Get rid of dye in jeans?
by
Diane
+6
I have a pair of black jeans that I have washed 3 times in cold water and I still cannot get all the dye out. I wore them today and the dye rubbed off on my off-white sweater. How do I get the dye out of the jeans? Thanks!
9 answers
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I'm betting the dye used was indigo which is notorious for bleeding. You can try setting the dye by adding a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle. At the very least this should slow down the bleeding process. I've heard that you should turn them inside out, though I'm not sure why. I've never done this. Do make sure if you wash anything else with them, that it's more blue jeans. I usually wash my faded jeans with new dark jean so if there's any transferring of the dye, my faded jeans will get it. Wash them in cold water as that will keep your jeans from shrinking. I hope this works for you Diane. It may take a number of washings before all the excess dye is removed. If all else fails soak them in cold water overnight in your washer with a cup of vinegar and wash it out in the morning.
Z
on Dec 13, 2013
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Or you might try using salt.
Carolyn Faye Blizzard Lanier
on Dec 13, 2013
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All three suggestion here are good Diane. See how it works for you.
Mary Miranda
on Dec 13, 2013
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I think the idea is that you need to keep the dye in the jeans and not on your clothes and furniture or running through anything else that you wash with them at the same time! I would ask in a dry cleaners to see if they know of any ways to 'set the dye' so it does not keep bleeding. you could also try salt in the water when you wash them as someone else here suggested. A very hot wash might get rid of a lot of the dye, if you want them to fade, but the danger there is that the jeans might shrink. Good luck!
Carole
on Dec 13, 2013
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I put new fabrics (especially ones with red) in the washing machine on a rinse and drain cycle with salt and vinegar and let them set for several hours and then finish the cycle. Not exactly sure how much of each because I just pour some of each, but I would guess a cup of each in the cold water. After you do this, wash the jeans in cold water each time.
Barbara Ahern
on Dec 14, 2013
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Dissolve epsom salt in warm water, add cold water to it and then the pants. Let them soak overnight. Wash in cold water.
Marciaplourde_nh
on Dec 14, 2013
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I just put them in with other black clothes and add vinegar and have not seem to have any problems of them fading or rubbing off on other clothes.
Kathie
on Dec 14, 2013
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You will have to wash them in hot water a couple of times, actually cold water will not remove the excess dye, but hot water will, they may not be as black as you want them to be, but I promise if you know anybody with white slipcovered furniture, Don't wear them to their house LOL, The reason I didn't get on the slipcover bandwagon, just because you can wash them and bleach them, I have it on good authority that dark blue jeans will also leave a blue mark on them too, but anyway I got off on another subject :)
Amy W.
on Dec 15, 2013
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You can set colors with white vinegar in the wash just as Kathie states. I put a cup in the wash with them on cold and then fill up your basin for the fabric softener.
The Garden Frog with C Renee
on Dec 16, 2013
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