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Original poster

Anyone know how to cover up bleach marks on a black top?

21 replies

pangaea90 · 02/05/2015 21:04

I got bleach splashed on a black top and it's turned it a funny red-brown colour Sad. I'd quite like to salvage it if possible (don't think I'll be able to replace it) but I'm a bit reluctant to go and buy a whole pack of dye without knowing it's going to work.

Anyone got any ideas how to cover it up? It's just a few marks but in a pretty obvious place. In a moment of naive hope I tried colouring it in with a black pen and it looked great, until I washed it and it all came out I'm pretty sure if I got it on a white top it wouldn't wash out so nicely

TIA

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 02/05/2015 21:06

use a laundry marker or a sharpie?

cozietoesie · 02/05/2015 21:08

I was actually going to suggest a black felt tip - just what you tried - if it's only a few marks. Are you sure you used a permanent marker? Some of them are specifically designed to be water-soluble (for marker boards and kids' toys for example) so they'd defintely wash out.

KillmeNow · 02/05/2015 21:11

I have ruined so many tops with bleach- by leaning over the worktop after spraying with cleaner usually.And why is it almost always a black top that this happens to?

I have temporarily managed to get more wear out of them by using a laundry marker/sharpie type pen. The bleachy mark seems to hold the bleach somehow and the pen fades quite quickly with washing though. I then throw the item away. I think the first manufacturer who comes up with a bleach resistant marker will sell them in their thousands just for this reason.

Original poster
pangaea90 · 02/05/2015 21:36

Thanks for the replies.

I tried a Sharpie, so definitely a permanent marker, and it just washed straight out. It's so frustrating isn't it. Maybe I just need to resign myself to the fact it's ruined and keep it for cleaning/craft type stuff. Sigh. I really like it.

Annoyingly it was a bit of an emergency cleaning situation as well, I wasn't intending to be using bleach whilst wearing it.

Off to google laundry markers...

OP posts:
KillmeNow · 02/05/2015 21:55

I wondered if a bleach resistant marker existed so looked it up. seems there maybe one.Here is an extract from an article.

Colouring in the bleach stain
Sharpie produce special Rub-a-Dub laundry pens. If you have a black garment, and again, if it is a small spot, then this would be a quick and easy fix. You can also use regular Sharpies (available in a wide range of colours) but need to “fix” the pen colouring on to the fabric (ironing on low, or tumble drying on low will usually do this).

cozietoesie · 02/05/2015 22:01

£3.56 for two from Amazon. Wink

dementedpixie · 02/05/2015 22:04

I have a sharpie laundry marker. got it in one of the supermarkets

cozietoesie · 02/05/2015 22:48

I sense a possible deal here. Smile

UseHerName · 02/05/2015 22:50

Any tops I've got bleach in,eventually the bit with the bleach goes into a hole...I don't think there's a way to salvage it once the colour has been bleached out of it?

CointreauVersial · 02/05/2015 22:52

Just re-colour it every time you wash it. Surely it won't take long?

I have a black jumper which I regularly dab with a Sharpie.

Original poster
pangaea90 · 03/05/2015 07:45

I did think about recolouring it every time, but it's lots of little splashes, and tbh I don't really like the smell of it.

Thanks for all the suggestions, I'm going to try the ironing tip to fix the normal Sharpie (more out of curiosity than anything) and then if that doesn't work get a laundry marker.

I think it probably will turn to little holes eventually, but I'm determined to try and get a bit more wear out of it first. I am cheap thrifty like that

OP posts:
fulltothebrim · 03/05/2015 07:52

Dye it.

Use a black machine dye. Easy peasy.

cozietoesie · 03/05/2015 08:39

I'm 'thrifty' myself - some would say to extremes - but there are times when you have to recognize, even with a much-loved garment, that its time has come. I'd be considering giving it a ceremonial send-off and going to ebay or the local charity shop - if funds are tight - and buying something new to you. Is all this effort truly worth it?

Original poster
pangaea90 · 03/05/2015 11:52

I'm curious about whether fixing the pen ink by ironing it works, tbh, so I might as well give it a go. Useful to know these things. Laundry pen will come in handy for school clothes so will probably end up with one anyway. Don't think I cba with dying it though!

OP posts:
Original poster
pangaea90 · 06/05/2015 20:32

Quick update (for future googlers of how to get rid of bleach marks) - ironing the Sharpie didn't work for me. Washed straight out again (on a cool wash). Never mind...

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 06/05/2015 20:49

Ah well...

Oldraver · 08/05/2015 23:46

I have a bleach mark on the knee of some leggings and just Sharpie it each time

travailtotravel · 09/05/2015 21:34

I've tried dying but it doesn't cover the bleach mark properly in all cases. I just colour mine in every time I want to wear it. Which is not often now I have to colour it in.

Always a favourite top, eh.

EmNetta · 09/05/2015 22:03

I've not used a Sharpie, but stitching on scraps of fabric to cover the bleach marks has worked for a favourite (mauve wool) top, and I've also added more bleach for a tie-dye effect on green t-shirt, fun to wear round the house for a while.

Bonbonchance · 12/05/2015 21:03

Machine dye covered up a bleach marked cardie perfectly for me. Super easy I use one every so often for faded black stuff, comes out like new.

Hakluyt · 12/05/2015 21:08

My Dp got a bleach splash on a favourite grey jumper- and just sharpies over the splash every time it's washed. Works fine.

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