When it comes to doing household chores, cleaning can be tricky when dealing with deeply set-in stains or bad odors. For this reason, bleach is one of the most used products, especially thanks to its great disinfecting power, which allows it to neutralize bacteria, viruses and fungi.
The compound, also known as bleach, is not only very useful for its characteristics, but also stands out as being an economical option to neutralize all the germs in the house. However, its use is not entirely simple, because if used incorrectly it can be harmful to health.
So, used carefully and with the necessary precautions, bleach is a great ally. However, it is normal that after continued use of the product, it ends up staining our clothes, which could discolor them, remove some of their color and sometimes completely damage them.
Although it is virtually impossible to reverse the effects of bleach on clothing – as it not only damages the fabric fibers, but also directly removes their color, completely bleaching them – there are some options that will allow you to to collect your favorite clothes. whiten stains or at least give them a second life.
Touch up the affected area with a fabric marker
One of the most useful household methods for touching up small bleach stains is to use fabric markers. These are special markers that allow you to mark the area with wash-resistant ink. To do this, select a felt pen of the same color as the laundered garment and do a test on an inconspicuous area.
If the color matches and suits you, use it to mark the entire area discolored by the bleach until the color is uniform and it is impossible to see any spots. Fabric markers come in a variety of colors, so it will be easy to find one that matches the color of the damaged garment.
Dye the entire garment
If the garment has a large number of stains, the best option may be to dye it completely, thus preventing any damage from being visible. To do this, start by washing and drying the garment properly in the washing machine to remove all traces of bleach.
Then check the composition of the garment to acquire a textile dye that suits it. If it is not possible to purchase a dye in the exact same color as the damaged garment, it is advisable to purchase a dye that is a darker color than the original fabric so that it completely covers any stain. Once the desired color is acquired, it will be time to apply it to clothing.
In this way, prepare a container with hot water and pour the dye, mixing it well. After that, completely submerge the garment and let it sit for the time recommended by the manufacturer. Once the wait is over, put the dyed clothes in the washing machine and use a simple cycle to remove the excess and let the color set.
Cover the affected area with embroidery or patch
One of the easiest ways to hide a bleach stain is to cover it with a patch or embroidery. This option is simple and economical, in addition to being a great opportunity to give your personal touch to the garment.
Check the patch you are going to use, if it is iron-on, it will be possible to hot glue it. To do this, preheat the area for about 15 seconds and place the patch on the stain. Next, place parchment paper between the escutcheon and the iron so that it does not burn when pressed. Once all the pieces are installed, press for half a minute with the hot iron so that the glue adheres to the garment.
If the selected patch is not iron-on, it is also possible to embroider it. To do this, simply sew the patch along the edges until it is secure, but you can also continue with alternative embroidery incorporating the patch. patch as much as possible into the garment.
Completely bleach the garment
Although all of the above alternatives can help save some of our favorite clothes, sometimes any measure proves ineffective when the fabrics are badly damaged. Therefore, one way to give another life to clothes with bleach-stained areas is to give in to the mistake and launder them completely.
In this way, bleaching the entire garment will allow it to become uniform again. To do this, immerse it completely in bleach diluted in water (three parts water for each of the compounds) and let it sit for up to half an hour. Therefore, leaving it on for more than 30 minutes can damage the fibers, but times vary depending on the fabric as follows:
- For heavy-duty fabrics, like cotton or denim, soak them for 15 to 30 minutes.
- If they are delicate fabrics, like linen or some synthetics, soak them for 5 to 10 minutes.
After that, put all the bleached clothes in the washing machine to remove excess bleach. Additionally, avoid mixing the compound with other cleaning products such as ammonia, as together they can produce highly toxic gases that can lead to serious respiratory problems, among other things.
