When it comes to cleaning and whitening clothes, bleach is the most powerful cleaning agent with excellent brightening properties. But there are certain kinds of fabric stuff upon which the bleach does not work.
Why Is My Bleach Not Working on Fabric?
The advancement in technology and innovation has led to the production of fabric that is resistant to bleach. Unlike the past where the fabric got easily damaged by the rigorous effects of bleach, modern fabric stuff has bleach repelling properties.
The modern stuff has no natural tolerance to bleach, but it is specifically treated to defy the effects of bleach. Owing to these resistive properties, you do not need to worry while washing and using bleach on sensitive clothes like cotton.
What Is Meant by A Bleach Resistant Fabric?
Most of the time when we add bleach to the clothes, the color of the fabric may fade due to the strong chemicals in the bleach. The term, ‘bleach resistant’ refers to the ability of fabric not to fade or weaken when the bleach is added to the wash.
The term “solution-dyed fabric” refers to a specialized technique where the dye color is incorporated in the middle of the fabric-making process. This technique means that the color is absorbed directly into the fibers, leaving no original color for the bleach to revive the fabric.
What Kinds of Fabric Resist Bleach?
Some kinds of fabrics may be chemically treated to have resistance against bleach so that their fibers will not weaken when the bleach is applied to the wash. While some of the synthetic substances appear to be bleach resistant, soaking them in bleach can damage the synthetic fibers.
The term bleach is often misunderstood, as using bleach for some means to brighten colors, and for others, it means a stain remover. The second concept is right because almost all fabrics give up stains when they come in contact with bleach.
If one thinks of the concept of bleach for removing color, there are many fabrics that will not bleach. To name a few, nylon, polyester, and acrylic. are just a few examples of synthetic materials that will not bleach if the definition of the term is limited to removing color.
However, when those materials are washed, they lose their dirt, are sterilized, and appear cleaner. When you have difficult stains to remove, long-term exposure is not advised.
The chemical interaction that occurs when chlorine is combined with other harsh chemicals causes chlorine bleach to deteriorate plastic fibers. When you soak clothes in bleach, you will notice that both natural and synthetic fibers do not react well.
Modern fabrics are designed to have the ability which preserve the color and quality of your clothes and enhance their life span.
This is referred to as a bleach-resistant or bleach-cleanable fabric. Acrylic, nylon, polyethylene, and polypropylene fabrics, as well as high-energy polyester and polyurethane fabrics, are resistant to this aspect of bleach.
Almost all fabrics will be harmed in some way if you use an overly strong bleach solution or soak the garments in the chemical for an extended period. When this happens, even polyester and rayon wear away.
If the fabric will not bleach, either the chemical concentration is too low, or the material is a colorfast design with no original color beneath the dye used to create the look of that fabric.
How to Remove Bleach Stains from Clothes?
Bleach stains are not actually stains, rather the color on that specific area of the fabric may fade out giving the appearance of a stain. The color may be permanently lost, and the shirt or pants may become useless. Whether these are bleach stains or any other type of stains, they look bad.
So, let’s dig into some effective ways to remove bleach stains from the clothes.
Neutralize Bleach Stains with The Help of Baking Soda
It is essential to neutralize the bleach stain before attempting a bleach-fixing method on your clothes. As a result, you should rinse the area to remove any excess bleach.
For making a paste, combine baking soda and water. Apply the solution to the stain. Allow the paste to dry completely.
Remove Bleach Stains with Rubbing Alcohol
If you get bleach on your favorite shirt or jeans that have not been washed, use the neutralizing method. Then, for smaller bleached areas, try the rubbing alcohol method.
Rub rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab. Pull the color from the surrounding areas into the white area by rubbing the cotton swab around the bleach stain. Continue doing so until all the dye has been transferred to the bleached area.
Allow the clothing to dry naturally. You may notice that the bleached area remains slightly lighter than the surrounding area. If this is the case, a fabric dye can be used to correct it.
Remove Bleach Stains with Fabric Dye
If the alcohol method fails or you have a large stain and the fabric is not ruined (bleach can melt certain materials), you can dye the garment. This method explains how to dye the entire garment.
Choose a fabric dye that complements the color of your garment. Follow the directions on the color remover. Do not skip this step because it will help the dye adhere to your clothing.
Redye the item according to the instructions on the dye package. While many people use a washing machine, soaking the clothes in a bucket also works well.
Related Questions
How Long Does It Take Bleach to Work on Fabric?
Submerge your clothing in the bleach solution for at least five minutes. Check it every minute to see if it has lightened enough for you. Remember that the color will be a shade or two lighter when it dries.
Does the Sun Aid in The Bleaching of Clothes?
Many people believe that sun bleaching works better when the clothes are wet rather than dry (although even dry items will still be sun-bleached to some degree). The sun’s rays are responsible for bleaching, so if the rays cannot pass through, the item will not be bleached.
Conclusion
Some fabrics may be resistant to bleaching, but they must be manufactured in a special way or chemically treated. Modern technology makes use of techniques to retain the quality and color of the fabric against the chemicals in bleach.