I put a shirt in the washer that I dyed with Rit Dye and now everything's stained. How do I get it out? Help!

Question

I dyed a shirt not so long ago with red Rit Dye [powdered] and it got dirty, so I put it in the washer along with other colored clothing. My mom got it out and now everything's stained and I'm in BIG trouble. How do I get it out?

Will clorox work? Oxiclean? Something?

Help!

Answer 1

First just wash in HOT water. (If your water heater is turned down to 120° for safety, ask your parents if they can turn it back up to 140° for you, temporarily.) Rit dye is only loosely associated with the fiber, which is why it bleeds in the laundry. Hot water will remove a lot of the dye. This might be all you have to do! If merely washing in hot water doesn't do the trick, try soaking it in hot water, and then rewash.

If some unwanted dye still remains, you can use OxyClean or OxyBoost or any other oxygen-based cleaner. You can use one of these cleaners in the first step with the hot water if you like.

If, after that, some unwanted dye still remains, you can buy a product called Rit Color Remover. It is sold in most stores right next to the horrible Rit dye that got you into trouble in the first place. Do not use this step first, since it may remove some of the original colors of the garments. Try Rit Color Remover only after trying hot hot water, and after trying oxygen-based cleaners. You may need to use two boxes at once if your washing machine is large. It's easy to use; just follow the instructions on the package, using the hottest water you can. Other brands of this product are Carbona Run Remover and Dylon Run Away.

Do not use Clorox (hypochlorite bleach) unless every piece of clothing is 100% cotton, linen, or hemp. Chlorine bleach will destroy synthetic fibers such as polyester, spandex, and nylon, as well as animal fibers such as silk and wool.

Next time you dye clothing, you can buy a better dye that does not run in the laundry. Anything you dye with Rit must be hand washed, separately, in cold water. Who has time for all that hand washing?! Procion dyes will last through a hundred washings without bleeding, even in hot water (be sure to wash it twice in hot water before washing it with your regular clothes).

You can buy good Procion type dyes in any good tie-dye kit. Don't buy the Rit tie-dye kit. Go to a crafts store and look for a tie-dye kit made by Jacquard, Dylon, Rainbow Rock, or Tulip. Or, for dyeing a solid color, buy Jacquard Procion MX dyes, or Dylon Cold Dye, or Dylon Permanent Dye, or Tulip One Step Fashion Dye. All of these brands of dye contain good fiber reactive dyes that will not run in the laundry, once you've washed out the unattached excess dye in hot water (wash two or three times before wearing the first time). When your clothing is dyed with these dyes, there is no need to hand wash, no need to sort—you can throw every color in the washing machine together at any temperature, without any of the dyes bleeding and ruining other garments.

Answer 2

you can try rewashing everything, but most likely all is ruined.  accidents happen and you've learned a lesson.  naturally, you mom will be angry but she will admire the fact that you did the laundry yourself and are still learning.  perfection takes time.  ask her for her advice in the future.