How to Wash New Coloured Clothes & Prevent Colour from Running

Buying new clothes is always enjoyable, but the last thing you want is for the dye from your new threads bleeding in the very first wash. If you’re wondering how to stop colour bleeding from clothes, you will get top advice right here.

How to stop colour bleeding from clothes

Learning how to prevent colour bleeding when you wash your clothes, whether it’s the first wash or the tenth, is super easy.

1. Always wash your whites and colours separately.
2. Use as cold a wash as you can, preferably 30°C.
3. Use colour catching sheets in your wash which will catch any unexpected colour bleed before they can stain other clothes.
4. Pop one cup of vinegar into your normal wash in the fabric softener compartment. This can help prevent bleeding as well as treating other stains, and won’t leave any odours on your clothes.

How to prevent colour bleeding and staining in 6 steps

Whilst taking your clothes to a professional cleaner may feel like the easy option, there are simple steps you can take when it comes to how to prevent colour bleeding and staining at home:

1. Always wash colours and whites separately. If you have any new garments in strong colours, you may want to wash these with similar colours only, or hand-wash them the first time you wash them.
2. Avoid drying clothes with stains as high heat can set colour stains into your clothes.
3. If you still end up with a stain, dab at the stain to lift as much liquid as possible from it, avoiding rubbing as this will push the stain deeper into the fibres.
4. Try washing the clothes again, following the instructions on the label. You should ideally wash clothes with colour bleed separately – if there are a few items that have been affected, you can use a short programme on the washing machine, but if it’s a lone item, you’re best off washing it by hand.
5. Try adding a cup of distilled white vinegar to a bowl of cold water and soaking the stained area. Be sure to test a small area of the clothing first to check it won’t be affected by the vinegar. Then wash again as normal.
6. If all else fails, try using a commercial stain-removing product. Ensure you read the directions on the label and test the product on a small area first. Once you have treated the stain, rinse the clothing and wash as normal.

Now you have some easy-to-follow tips for how to stop colour bleeding from clothes, you are prepared to keep your clothing looking great from wash to wear every time