How to Remove Dye Transfer from Clothes: A Cleaning Expert’s Five-Step Method

Cleaning expert Scott Schrader recommends rinsing dye-stained clothing, soaking it in a suitable color-safe bleach solution or dye remover, then washing it separately. Avoid using the dryer until the stain is gone.

3 Nov 2026

A color-run accident can leave pale clothes stained, but cleaning expert Scott Schrader of CottageCare shared a five-step method for treating dye transfer. The key is to act promptly and keep the affected clothing out of the dryer, since heat can set the stain.

First, rinse the stained fabric with cold water to remove loose dye. Next, prepare a soak using either one cup of oxygen-based, color-safe bleach per gallon of water or one sachet of dye remover in 1.5 gallons of water. Use water at the hottest temperature allowed by the garment’s care label.

Soak the clothes for six to eight hours, or overnight if the staining is heavier. Then wash the item by itself with heavy-duty detergent, using the hottest setting the fabric allows. If dye remains after washing, repeat the soaking and washing steps.

Schrader advises against scrubbing the stain, which can push dye further into the fabric, and says not to dry the garment until the stain has completely disappeared. For people who wash colors and whites together, the article also recommends using color-catcher sheets to help trap loose dye.

Sources: Apartment Therapy.