How to Remove Hair Dye Stains From Clothes

Why hair dye stains are so hard to remove

Hair color is designed to be stubborn. Permanent and demi-permanent dyes contain pigments that are meant to penetrate and cling, and they often include developers that help them bond. When those pigments land on cotton, polyester, or towels instead of hair, they grab on just as tightly.

The good news is that the same chemistry that makes dye cling also lets certain cleaners break it apart or lift it from the fibers. The key is to match your method to the type of fabric, the color of the garment, and whether the stain is fresh or has already gone through the dryer.

Quick check: can this stain be saved?

Before you start scrubbing, take 30 seconds to assess the situation. This helps you avoid damaging the fabric or setting the stain permanently.

• Read the care label. If it says dry clean only, skip home chemistry experiments and go to the dry cleaner as soon as possible.
• Check the fabric type. Sturdy cottons and cotton blends can handle stronger treatments. Delicates like silk, wool, acetate, and rayon need a gentler, shorter approach.
• Look at the stain age. Fresh, still-wet dye is much easier to remove than a stain that has dried or gone through heat.
• Note the garment color. Whites and very light colors may tolerate color-safe or even chlorine bleach. Bright or dark colors can fade quickly if you use harsh products.

If the item is washable and the stain is fresh, you have an excellent chance of removing most or all of it. For older or already dried stains, you are often aiming for a big improvement rather than perfection, and it may take more than one treatment.

How to remove fresh hair dye stains from washable clothes

Work on fresh stains as soon as you notice them. Every minute counts, especially with permanent dyes.

Step 1: Rinse from the back with cold water

Hold the stained area under cold running water with the back of the fabric facing the tap. You want the water to push the dye out the way it came in, not drive it deeper into the fibers.

Rinse for at least 2 to 5 minutes, gently squeezing the fabric with your fingers. Do not use hot water at this stage, because heat can set the stain.

Step 2: Pre-treat with liquid detergent or dish soap

Lay the garment flat on an old towel. Apply a small amount of liquid laundry detergent or clear dish soap directly to the stain. Gently work it in with your fingers or a soft toothbrush, using light, short strokes from the outside of the stain toward the center so it does not spread.

Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes, then rinse with cold water again. If the stain lightens but does not disappear, repeat once before moving on.

Step 3: Use rubbing alcohol for stubborn color

For many permanent dyes, rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) can help break up the pigment. Place an old white towel or a stack of paper towels under the stained area so it does not transfer elsewhere.

Pour a small amount of rubbing alcohol onto a clean white cloth or cotton ball, then blot the stain, lifting up and away. Rotate to a clean part of the cloth as the dye transfers. Avoid soaking the entire area, especially on delicates. Rinse with cool water when the color stops lifting.

Step 4: Soak in oxygen bleach for color-safe stain lifting

Fill a basin or sink with cool to lukewarm water and dissolve oxygen bleach powder according to the package directions. This is often labeled as color-safe bleach or non-chlorine bleach.

Submerge the stained part of the garment and let it soak for at least 1 hour. For heavy stains on sturdy fabrics, you can soak up to 8 hours or overnight, checking the color occasionally. Rinse well when done.

Step 5: Wash as usual, but air dry

Wash the garment in the warmest water that is safe for the fabric, using a good quality detergent. Add an extra rinse if you used a lot of cleaners in the pretreat stage.

After washing, inspect the stain in good light. If you still see dye, do not put the item in the dryer. Heat locks in stains. Instead, repeat the pretreat and soak steps, then wash again and air dry.

How to treat dried or set-in hair dye stains

Once hair dye has dried or gone through a hot dryer cycle, the stain is more stubborn. You are often aiming to fade it as much as possible. Work slowly and test harsher treatments in a hidden area first.

Step 1: Make a detergent and oxygen bleach paste

Mix a teaspoon or two of liquid laundry detergent with enough powdered oxygen bleach to form a thick paste. For dark or bright garments, test this mix on an inside seam to be sure it does not lighten the fabric.

Spread the paste directly over the stain and gently work it in with your fingers or a soft brush. Let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes, then rinse with cool water.

Step 2: Try an alcohol-based pretreat

If pigment is still strong, apply rubbing alcohol or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to the stain. Work on top of a white towel so any dye that lifts has somewhere to go. Blot, do not rub hard, and refresh your cloth as it picks up color.

Rinse well, then follow with another oxygen bleach soak. This combination often fades older stains significantly, especially on cotton and polyester blends.

Step 3: For whites only, consider diluted chlorine bleach

On solid white, chlorine-safe fabrics that are already stained beyond wear, diluted chlorine bleach may be a last resort. Never use chlorine bleach on colored clothing, wool, silk, or spandex.

In a well-ventilated area, mix a very weak bleach solution according to the bottle directions and test on a hidden seam first. If the fabric tolerates it, apply briefly to the stained area, wait a few minutes, then rinse very thoroughly and launder right away. Stop immediately if you see yellowing or fabric damage.

Choosing the right method for your fabric

Not all fabrics can handle every cleaning method. When in doubt, err on the gentle side and repeat safe treatments rather than jumping straight to harsh chemicals.

Cotton, polyester, and cotton blends

These everyday fabrics are the most forgiving. They can usually handle direct detergent pretreatments, oxygen bleach soaks, and careful use of rubbing alcohol.

For light colors, you can keep repeating the detergent and oxygen bleach cycle until the stain is nearly gone. For dark colors, focus on shorter contact times and gentle blotting so you do not cause a faded halo around the original spot.

Delicates such as silk, wool, and rayon

Delicate fibers absorb hair dye quickly and are easily damaged by strong cleaners. Avoid bleach of any kind and limit rubbing alcohol to very quick dabs that you rinse immediately.

Use a mild detergent designed for delicates, wash in cool water by hand, and blot with a towel instead of wringing. If the item is expensive or has sentimental value, a professional cleaner is often the safest choice.

Stretch fabrics and activewear

Spandex and performance fabrics can react poorly to solvents and high heat. Keep water cool to warm, skip chlorine bleach, and go light with rubbing alcohol. Detergent pretreatments and oxygen bleach soaks are usually your best bet.

Always air dry stretch fabrics flat, especially after any aggressive stain treatment, since heat and agitation can break down the fibers.

Dry clean only clothing

If the care tag says dry clean only, the safest move is to blot the fresh dye gently with a dry white cloth, then take it to a dry cleaner as soon as possible. Tell them exactly what caused the stain and what, if anything, you have already tried.

A professional cleaner has access to specialized solvents and spotting techniques that are much less risky for tailored pieces, lined garments, and delicate fabrics.

Common stain removers for hair dye, with pros and cons

Different stain removers work in different ways. Here is how the most useful options stack up for hair dye on clothes.

Liquid laundry detergent

Pros: Safe for almost all washable fabrics, easy to use, effective on fresh stains, and already in most homes.

Cons: Often not strong enough alone for set-in or very dark dye stains; may require repeats and soaks.

Oxygen bleach powder (color-safe bleach)

Pros: Lifts color stains without the harshness of chlorine bleach, safe on most colors and fabrics when used as directed, excellent for long soaks.

Cons: Works more slowly, can still fade very bright or unstable dyes, and should be patch tested on dark or saturated fabrics.

Rubbing alcohol or alcohol-based hand sanitizer

Pros: Good at breaking up certain dye pigments, especially permanent and demi-permanent hair colors; inexpensive and easy to control with cotton pads.

Cons: Can dry out or weaken some synthetic fibers, may cause color loss on dark garments, and has strong fumes so needs ventilation.

Hydrogen peroxide (for light fabrics only)

Pros: Mild bleaching action can help on white and very light-colored items, especially towels and cottons.

Cons: Can lighten fabric dyes along with hair dye, so always test first and avoid using on dark or saturated colors.

Chlorine bleach (last resort for whites)

Pros: Very strong color remover for white cottons and linens that are already badly stained.

Cons: High risk of damaging fibers, yellowing, or creating weak spots; never safe on colors, wool, silk, or stretch fabrics.

What not to do with hair dye stains on clothes

Well-meant mistakes can lock hair dye stains in more deeply or damage the fabric around them. Avoid these pitfalls whenever you can.

• Do not use hot water first. Heat sets many dyes. Start with cold water and only move warmer once most of the stain has lifted.
• Do not put a stained item in the dryer. Always air dry until the stain is completely gone or you have given up on further improvement.
• Do not scrub aggressively. Hard scrubbing roughens fibers and can leave a worn patch or halo even if the color comes out.
• Do not mix cleaning chemicals. Combining products like ammonia and bleach is dangerous and can create toxic fumes.
• Do not assume more is better. Leaving strong cleaners on fabric for too long can cause fading or weakening even if they lift the stain.

How to prevent future hair dye stains on clothes

Once you have wrestled with hair dye stains a few times, prevention starts to feel very appealing. A few simple habits can protect your clothing and make cleanup easier.

• Wear dye clothes. Keep an old, dark T-shirt or button-front shirt specifically for coloring your hair, and do not mind if it shows a few stains.
• Use towels and capes. Drape an old towel or a salon-style cape over your shoulders while applying dye and during processing time.
• Cover the sink and counter. Lay dark towels or an old sheet around the area where you mix and apply color so splashes do not hit your good linens or clothes.
• Rinse carefully. When you rinse dye out of your hair, wear clothes you do not care about or simply wrap in a towel. Run the water down and away from collars and shoulders.
• Wash stained laundry separately. If towels pick up a lot of hair color, wash them on their own so any loose dye does not transfer to other items.

See also

For a fast way to figure out which stain treatment to try next, see our stain-rescue decision tree.

• Best laundry detergents for itchy, sensitive skin
• Downy Rinse & Refresh for fresher smelling laundry
• Laundry routines that help with allergies and eczema
• Seventh Generation Free & Clear detergent review

FAQ

Can I get hair dye out of clothes after they have already been dried?

Once a stained item has gone through a hot dryer, the hair dye molecules are much more set, but you can often still improve the stain. Start with a detergent and oxygen bleach paste on washable fabrics, then follow with a long oxygen bleach soak and a careful application of rubbing alcohol on stubborn spots. You may not get the fabric back to perfect, especially on light colors, but many stains can be faded enough to be much less noticeable.

Is it safe to use bleach on colored clothes with hair dye stains?

Chlorine bleach is almost never safe on colored clothing and will usually remove or distort the garment dye along with the hair dye. If you want to treat a colored item, stick with color-safe oxygen bleach and mild detergents, and always test in an inconspicuous spot first. Reserve chlorine bleach for solid white, bleach-safe fabrics that are already badly stained and where a small risk of damage is acceptable.

What is the best way to remove hair dye from towels?

Towels, especially light-colored cotton ones, often pick up hair dye around the edges and ends. Treat the stained areas promptly with liquid detergent and a soft brush, then soak them in a strong solution of oxygen bleach and warm water for several hours. For white bleach-safe towels that are badly stained, a dilute chlorine bleach soak followed by a hot wash can help, but expect some gradual wear over time.

Will hairspray remove hair dye stains from fabric?

Hairspray can help loosen some ink or makeup stains, but it is less reliable on hair dye, which is designed to be water resistant and bond strongly. The alcohol content in many hairsprays is what does the work, so going straight to rubbing alcohol or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer usually gives better, more controlled results. If you do try hairspray, test on a hidden area first, and rinse thoroughly afterward so the residue does not attract more dirt.

How can I tell when to stop treating a hair dye stain at home and go to a professional cleaner?

If the garment is labeled dry clean only, is made of silk, wool, or another delicate fiber, or is especially valuable to you, it is wise to stop after a gentle cold water rinse and head to a cleaner. Likewise, if you have tried a couple of safe at-home methods on a washable item and the fabric is starting to look fuzzy, faded, or worn, more scrubbing will likely do more harm than good. At that point, a professional cleaner may be able to use specialized spotters to improve the stain without further damaging the fabric.

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