We’ve all been victim to the stray red sock. There’s nothing quite like that sinking feeling when you pull a pink shirt out of the washing machine. Despite our best efforts, it will eventually happen to all of us. So, what’s the best colour run remedy?
In this article, we’ll look at inexpensive cures for laundry colour runs. Assuming you haven’t washed the item at a very high temperature, you may still be able to save it. Whether you’re after professional products or natural remedies, here’s everything you need to know about reversing colour run disasters.
Can you reverse colour run?
In many cases, yes! Colour run can be reversed if you act fast enough. Fresh dye transfers are easier to fix than staining that has set in over a longer period of time.
Luckily, there are several commercial products specifically designed for this type of washing mishap. They work by breaking down and lifting the transferred dye without damaging the fabric.
For best results, avoid drying any affected items, as heat can set the stain permanently.
Will rewashing remove colour run?
Rewashing clothes or fabrics after a colour run accident may help, particularly if you choose a colour-safe detergent and put everything through a cold-water wash. This can help to lift any recent dye transfer before it bonds with the material. Avoid warm or hot water.
For the best results, add a stain-fighting booster or laundry whitener to increase your chances of reversing the colour run. However, in more severe cases, you’ll need a much stronger treatment than a regular wash cycle.
What is the best product to remove colour run?
There are several effective colour run removers on the market. A top UK choice is Dr. Beckmann Colour Run Remover. This is one of the most trusted products in the industry, especially for whites and delicate items.
Dylon S.O.S Colour Run remover is also a great option. This is the same brand that produces the famous colour catcher sheets you may already use in your laundry cycles. You can use this product for mixed wash loads.
Off-the-shelf products – does Dr. Beckmann’s colour run work?
Dr Beckmann makes a colour run remover that really does work. It’s bleach free and requires nothing more than a soak. The remover comes in a pack of two sachets so that you can repeat the process if the first soak doesn’t work.
We’ve had good results from Dr Beckmann products, although anything that says ‘colour safe’ should be taken with a pinch of salt. It has removed dye from areas we didn’t particularly intend to treat, therefore changing the colour of the garment.
Dylon also makes a very good colour run remover, and there is a product called Colour Catcher that can be placed in the washing machine to absorb colours in the wash.
All of these products work best if the garment is treated immediately and is not allowed to dry. If you can’t do this immediately, keep the garment wet until you have time to do something with it, but don’t wash it again – a cold soak is better.
Many products claim to remove colour runs, but it’s worth remembering that there may be adverse effects. Colour run removers might alter the look of the garment or spoil it. However, if the dye has already run, you may feel you have nothing to lose.
Does colour run remover actually work?
Yes, when used correctly, colour run removers are highly effective. They work by targeting loose dye particles which can be lifted from the fibres of the affected fabric.
However, the sooner you use a colour run remover after a staining incident, the better. Success will depend on the type of fabric, the strength of the dye and whether you’ve heat-dried the item (which can set the stain in further!).
Alternative colour run solutions
Before the days of colour run removers, people used to soak white clothes in bleach. This still works well, but you must check the label for a triangle symbol which means that the clothes can be bleached.
Make sure that you rinse your whites thoroughly before wearing them again, and you must use thin bleach with clothes that are 100 per cent cotton. In addition, ensure that the solution is really weak.
You will have to soak the item overnight to give the bleach chance to work.
Some other products can be used to remove dye, such as Vanish or Oxiclean. These aren’t as cheap as bleach, but might be worth trying if all else fails. Ecover makes a type of laundry bleach that is kinder to the environment than regular household bleach (great for those looking for sustainable cleaning solutions). It’s also less likely to corrode the fabric and can be used with coloured clothes.
Many cleaners in Cheam swear by Stardrops as something of a miracle product, and it’s incredibly inexpensive. If you already have a bottle, try rubbing it into the stain with a cloth. (If you don’t have a bottle, buy one: it always comes in handy.)
As a last resort option, you could overdye the item with black dye. However, make sure that you fix the dye properly – follow the packet instructions. Otherwise, you could end up right back where you began.
Does vinegar remove colour run? How to remove colour run naturally
Vinegar does have some mild stain-removing properties, but it’s not the most reliable method for a serious colour-run accident. Many people like to use vinegar as part of their routine, using it in a cold soak for items like whites to keep them looking sharp.
Most cleaning vinegars aren’t strong enough for a major dye transfer, so you’ll need to consider better products to reverse the damage caused.
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