How to Stop Colors From Bleeding in the Wash

One new red shirt in the wrong load can ruin an entire batch of laundry in minutes. Colour bleeding is one of the most avoidable laundry mistakes — and one of the most frustrating once it’s already happened.

The basics

• Wash new, brightly-dyed items separately for the first few washes — this is when they’re most likely to bleed
• Use cold water — heat opens fabric fibres and speeds up dye release
• Turn dark and printed items inside out to reduce friction-based fading
• Add a colour-catching sheet to mixed loads as a safety net

Why new clothes are the biggest risk

Excess dye that wasn’t fully set during manufacturing sits on the surface of new fabric, waiting to release in the first few washes. Once an item has been washed several times without bleeding, the risk drops significantly — which is why the “new item” rule matters more than most people realize.

If bleeding already happened

Act fast — while the affected item is still wet, a colour-run remover product can sometimes reverse the damage before it sets. Once the item dries, the transferred dye becomes much harder to remove.

When to call for help

Mixed loads with unknown fabrics, valuable pieces, or anything you can’t risk testing at home are worth leaving to the professionals. For wash & fold handled for you, see pricing and how it works, then book when you’re ready.