Removing Hair Dye Stains from Clothes: Tips & Tricks

Whether you have an experimental teenager in the house dying their hair pink, or you have some stubborn greys that you tried to tackle once and for all, hair dye can get messy! Although hair dye stains are scary, don’t panic!

Read on for Haier’s proven tips and techniques for removing different types of hair dye stains from your clothes.

What Removes Hair Dye from Clothes?

The best way to treat hair dye stains is as soon as possible. As the dye dries and sets in further into the fibres of the fabric, it becomes more difficult to remove. Laundry detergent, oxygen-based bleach, and chlorine bleach can be used to potentially remove stains from blue, black and brown hair dye. For red hair dyes, bleach, water, white vinegar, dishwashing liquid and ammonia are best.

Always consult the garment’s wash label for any instructions and indications of what products are safe to use. Test a stain remover in an inconspicuous spot first to see if it is safe to use on the rest of the garment.

Caution: never use ammonia, vinegar or bleach together as the chemical reaction produces toxic gases. Never use ammonia on items containing latex as ammonia can dissolve latex.

Will Bleach Remove Hair Dye From Clothes?

Bleach can remove some hair dye stains from clothes, but this depends on the type of bleach, fabric, and hair dye. Bleach that is oxygen-based and non-chlorine can be used on coloured fabrics while chlorine bleach should only be used on whites. Consult the wash label on the garment before applying bleach.

Getting Hair Dye Out Of Clothes: A Step-by-Step Guide

Now that we know some basics of how to approach a hair dye stain, let’s take a look at the steps for removing hair dye stains from light and dark clothes.

What you’ll need:

• Laundry detergent (Our favourite: Care+Protect’s ECO+ Laundry Detergent)
• Toothbrush
• Cold water
• Soaking basins (one or two)
• Rubber gloves
• Alternative cleaning materials: dish soap, vinegar, oxygen-based bleach, chlorine bleach, ammonia etc.
• Washing machine

How to Remove Blue, Black, and Brown Hair Dye from Clothes

Step 1: Spot-Treat with Liquid Laundry Detergent

As soon as you notice a hair dye stain, spot treat the stain with laundry detergent. Rub liquid laundry detergent into the stain using a soft bristled brush like a toothbrush and rinse well. For best results, use a high-quality laundry detergent like ECO+ Laundry Detergent by Care+Protect which removes up to 60% of stains from your clothes. Its biodegradable and cruelty-free formula is powerful against stains, even at lower temperatures!

Step 2: Pre-Soak in Oxygen-Based or Chlorine Bleach

Fill a sink, a basin or a tub with cool water and add oxygen-based bleach according to the manufacturer's instructions. Submerge the garment and let it soak for at least 8 hours.

If the garment is white and the stain persists, do another soak in a solution of water and chlorine bleach for 15 minutes. Rinse with plenty of water.

Haier’s Expert Tip: Always read the garment’s labels to see if you can use bleach before submerging it.

Step 3: Wash and Air Dry

Wash the garment as usual with cold water and hang to dry. Repeat this process if the stain remains. Let Haier help you with stain removal with their specially designed washing machines. The Haier X Series 11 washing machines feature 12 dedicated programs for stain removal. So simply push a button and let Haier do the rest.

Haier’s Expert Tip: When removing any type of stain, do not dry the garment in the dryer. The heat from the dryer can cause stains to set even further into the fibres of the garment, making stain removal even more difficult.

How to Remove Red Hair Dye from Clothes

Step 1: Soak in Dish Soap and Ammonia

Mix a solution of one litre of water, 1/2 teaspoon of liquid dish soap, and one tablespoon of household ammonia in a plastic or glass container big enough to soak the garment. Submerge the stained area in the solution and soak for 30 minutes. After 15 minutes rub the stained area to loosen the stain.

Step 2: Soak in Vinegar and Water

In a separate container, mix one litre of water and 60 ml of distilled white vinegar. Soak the stained area for 30 minutes. Wash the garment as usual and let it air dry. Choose one of the stain removal programs on your Haier washing machine. If the stain is still present, go on to the next step.

Step 3: Soak in Oxygen-based Bleach and Water

Fill a soaking basin or sink with cool water and add oxygen-based bleach according to the instructions. Submerge the garment in the solution and soak overnight or for at least 8 hours. Launder the next day as usual and air dry.

Conclusion

Hair dye stains can be alarming, especially if we find them on our favourite garments or towels. Luckily, removing hair dye stains from clothes is not rocket science but does require attention to detail. Choosing the right supplies based on the colour of the hair dye along with reading the care instructions of the garment are key to successful stain removal.

Haier washing machines are the perfect ally for removing all sorts of stains with 12 dedicated stain removal programs, designed to ensure perfect results, every time!