Stain Removal Question

Updated on May 28, 2008
D.P. asks from Greenville, NC
21 answers

I recently bought a white cotton dress with a black floral pattern along the skirt of the dress. I washed it according to the label (cold water without bleach- I used oxyclean instead), removed it promptly, and let it air dry. After it dried, I noticed the black pattern had bled all over the white areas and left this ugly blue stain in spots. I have only worn the dress once and hate to think it is ruined! Any advice for getting out the bled through areas? I was thinking about washing it with bleach anyway, but I don't want to fade the black. Is it hopeless?

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K.S.

answers from Owensboro on

I found a new stain remover at WalMart. RESOLVE SPRAY AND WASH. It is in a red spray bottle. It is used for DRIED IN STAINS. WORKS WONDERS!!!!!!

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K.D.

answers from Raleigh on

Before trying anything more drastic like a bleach pen, just wash it again according to directions but add a color catcher sheet this time http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=73784&...

Next time, use the color catcher sheet as a preventative. They work great!

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M.P.

answers from Charlotte on

Take it back!! I had a bathing suit that did this once. I wore it once to the pool and the brown belt bled onto the blue fabric of the bathing suit bottoms. The store had no problem letting me bring it back. They may have you exchange it for a different dress but thats much better than being out of money and a new dress. Good Luck!!

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A.H.

answers from Pine Bluff on

One of my suggestions was going to be the bleach pen that many others suggested. I also would try Greased Lightning. It has done amazing things for my laundry, and the friend who recommended it to me said it has gotten stains from bleeding dye out of her laundry. Hope it helps!

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K.S.

answers from Raleigh on

I would say it is hopeless. You should have taken it to a cleaner. What does the label say? If the label doesn't warn you about it bleeding, I would return it. Always read the labels.

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K.A.

answers from Nashville on

Fist try a bleach pen. You can buy the pen at the grocery store. It is just like a writing pen and will allow you to put the bleach solution only on the white spots.

If all else fails, I would wash it in mild bleach water. You may have a grey and white dress but it would still be wearable.

K. A.

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V.T.

answers from Raleigh on

I really think you should return it to where you bought it. Even if you don't have the receipt anymore. You will never get the stain out and the manufacturer needs to know that there is a problem with these two fabrics being in the same garment. Manufacturers are supposed to test this before they make them up into dresses.

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E.M.

answers from Louisville on

i would take the dress back where you got it and tell them what happened see what they suggest

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C.W.

answers from Chattanooga on

I would just take it back to the store. My experience is that when this happens, nothing will help. No trim should ever fade on the rest of the garment.

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K.W.

answers from Fayetteville on

use shout advanced, it is for stains that are set in, and believe me it works! The longer you leave it the better it is! Good Luck!

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E.H.

answers from Wheeling on

I don't know about this dress, but the next time you wasdh an item that may bleed, add 1 cup of white vinegar. This srts the color & keeps it from bleeding. For this dress, you might want to wash it in cold water, with 1 cup of white vinegar, detergent, & bleach for colors. What do you have to lose? hope this helps.

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T.C.

answers from Fayetteville on

Try using a bleach pen on the areas that have turned blue instead of white. There are 2 tips on the pen so you'l be able to get into the small little spots as well as get the large areas. If that doesn't work I would return it and let them know you did as the directions told you to. I had a baby sling that did that and I returned it the next day without even attempting to wash it again....

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R.H.

answers from Raleigh on

Take it back to the store. You followed directions and the directions failed. Evidentally the material had not been colorset at the manufacturing stage. Once the dye has bled, you won't get it out.

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H.

answers from Charlotte on

I would take it back if no ones suggested remedy helps. You followed the instructions so it's not your fault and are owed a replacement.

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C.D.

answers from Chattanooga on

I know some suggested taking it back to the store, which is a good idea...but some stores would refuse it if it's been worn and washed. You could try contacting the company that manufactures the dress and see if they could send you a new one.

If you decided to keep it, you should make a water/bleach solution and dip a toothbrush into it and then scrub on those areas. Make sure there isn't too much liquid on the brush, because you don't want the parts that are supposed to be black to get bleached as well.

Good luck!

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R.B.

answers from Nashville on

I bought some dye magnet sheets that worked really well for a similar problem that I had. Make sure to get the sheets and not the powder. I used the powder one time and it completely ruined the clothes like they had been bleached. They should be in the dye section of the laundry aisle in the grocery store. I also recently bought some that are made by Carbonna. It looks like a white washcloth but you put it in with your laundry and it attracts the dyes and dirt out of the water instead of putting it back in the clothes. I've been using them in our laundry for a couple of weeks and while the cloths have gone from white to almost black my white clothes have gone from gray back to white and my colors are brighter.

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K.S.

answers from Huntington on

If it were me, I'd wash it again exactly like you did the first time. Hopefully, the excess dye was released from the black areas the first time and, hopefully, it will wash out of the white areas the second time. I'd certainly say it won't get any worse, even if it doesn't get better.

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T.C.

answers from Nashville on

I would take it back to the store and let them know what happened and exchange it for a different dress!

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K.T.

answers from Charlotte on

try dawn. I have found that to work miracles. You can always buy one of those clorox bleach sticks and just put it lightly on the stains. It shouldn't bleed it should just stick in that one spot. Good luck!

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J.B.

answers from Knoxville on

if you still have the receipt, take it back to the store for an exchange or refund. Explain to them that you washed it according to the directions and that's the result you got. They should at least exchange it for you.

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L.C.

answers from Raleigh on

Hi Dawn,sometimes I had success with stains like that when I would dip a Q tip into bleach and work on those areas with it, then rinse it right away. When that did not work I came up with creative ideas to cover the stains. I have a hard time imagining the dress but if you'd like you can email me the picture of it and might have some ideas ____@____.com

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