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Housekeeping

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removing dye transfer from bra?

2 replies

SnowdropsBlooming · 12/03/2025 21:38

any suggestions?

I wore a new black top the other day; it's kind of sheer at the back, and black bras showed up quite a bit, more than I wanted, whereas pale bras don't, so I wore a pale t-shirt bra with it.

But at the end of the night, I realised that the black dye had really rubbed onto the bra. The top is now soaking in a vinegar and salt solution to try to set the dye, but the water doesn't actually look very coloured and not much dye is coming out, so it doesn't really seem to be excess dye leaking.

So I think the biggest issue was the fact that the dye just transferred from the friction of the material against the bra, under jackets, from handbag, from carrying and doing stuff etc.

Any ideas how best to get the dye out of the bra, without resorting to a lot of scrubbing? Anything I can soak it in? It's a couple of days old now. I haven't wanted to wash it yet until I know I've soaked it in the most effective thing, as I don't want to set the stain more. Otherwise I guess I'll be saving this particular bra to wear with this top! I'd been going to get a new, better fitting one, but I don't want to ruin a new one now, so hoping that soaking the top might prevent it happening again (or at least lessen it).

OP posts:
WellsAndThistles · 13/03/2025 01:42

What type of material is the top made from? Vinegar will probably only help for protein based/mixed fibres rather than man made.

As for the bra, if the colour has got onto any of the elasticated parts, it's probably not coming off again I'm afraid. Maybe keep the bra for wearing with that top?

SnowdropsBlooming · 13/03/2025 07:11

thanks, it's made from polyester and elastane (it's a mesh top covered in sort of velvet-like swirls, that kind of burn-out pattern). So probably the vinegar and salt won't help much! I washed it last night after that, and it came out fine (despite not using liquid detergent as the tag says) but no idea if the dye is any more colour-fast now. I did notice the tag says to avoid rubbing on anything when wet as the dye will transfer to fabric and upholstery, but that's not much help on a tag as who can help friction against chairs and undergarments and so on?! And it wasn't wet either.

The bra is just slightly black/dirty looking all over, especially cups as it's a t-shirt bra style with formed cups, as well as the elastic bits. It's not really obvious but just looks grey-ish now, so I might have to just keep it for that top. It doesn't fit brilliantly so I'd been hoping to get another one, but no point ruining a new one!

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