Bleach is an effective common cleaner. While it can brighten whites, it is also a powerful oxidizer that can remove dyes on clothes, linens, or towels.

Whether used for laundry or household cleaning, bleach accidents can be dangerous. On clothes, bleach can leave yellow stains or even burn holes through fabric. Unfortunately, these stains are often permanent.

But there are a few hacks to reverse or restore bleach discoloration. Vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and baking soda could help fix a bleach stain and save beloved garments from the trash bin.

How to Remove Bleach Stains From Clothes

There’s no silver bullet to completely remove bleach stains. For the best chance at success, tackle the stain right away. Gather a bucket or bowl, a sink space to work, a microfiber cloth or cotton swab, baking soda, and water. Also, you’ll need one of the following ingredients for restoration: lemon juice, rubbing alcohol, or white vinegar.

1. Rinse the bleached area in cold water to remove excess bleach and prevent the stain from spreading any further.
2. Mixing bleach with chemical cleaners can give off dangerous fumes. Combine baking soda with water to create a paste; apply it evenly to the spot to neutralize it.
3. Let this paste dry on the stain to absorb and gently remove any bleach.

How much baking soda you need will depend on the size of the stain but follow a ratio of roughly three parts baking soda to one part water. Here are a few targeted cleaning options for getting rid of bleach stains:

Try Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is best to tackle bleach stains on white or light-colored clothing.

1. Thoroughly rinse out the bleach from the clothing. Try one of these two options. For larger, blotchy stains, soak the garment in diluted lemon juice. For smaller spots, pour lemon juice into a bowl and use a microfiber cloth to blot the stain.
2. If soaking in a bowl, let the garment sit for two hours before wringing it out and letting it dry. Repeat the soaking as often as needed to lighten the stain. Then, wash in color water and dry the garment thoroughly.
3. If using a microfiber cloth, dip it into the lemon juice and blot around the stain, working from the outside in. Let the area dry before laundering.

Try White Vinegar

 A white vinegar solution works best for dark or bright-colored clothing.

1. After rinsing and neutralizing the bleach, dip a microfiber cloth into a diluted white vinegar solution that’s equal parts vinegar and warm water.
2. Blot the stain, working from the outside in.
3. Let it sit for a few minutes and repeat until the stain fades. Then, wash and dry the garment. 

Use Rubbing Alcohol

 Rubbing alcohol can transfer the color to cover the stain. 

1. Ensure the bleached area is thoroughly rinsed and neutralized.
2. Use a cotton swab dipped in a bit of rubbing alcohol and work from the edges of the stain inward to transfer some of the color to mask the stain. The area might be a bit lighter than the rest of the garment, but the stain will be less noticeable.
3. Let the area air dry before laundering.

How to Remove Yellow Bleach Stains From White Clothes

Lemon juice or white vinegar work best. You’ll need a bucket or bowl, a ventilated space to work, a microfiber cloth, baking soda, water, and lemon juice or white vinegar—depending on your method.

1. Rinse the bleach from the garment by running it under cold water.
2. Neutralize the bleach to prevent harsh fumes. Create a paste using a three-parts baking soda to one-part water. Apply it evenly to the stain and let it dry before brushing it off.
3. Then, use lemon juice or white vinegar to target the stain.

Use Lemon Juice

1. For small stains, pour or squeeze lemon juice directly onto the stained area.
2. Let it dry in the sunlight.
3. Re-apply lemon juice. Let it dry before laundering the garment as usual.

For more splattered, large, or spread-out yellow bleach stains, use a lemon juice and boiling water solution.

1. Combine ¼ cup of lemon juice with 1 gallon of boiling water.
2. Put the garment in the solution (caution, it will be hot), and let it sit for one to two hours.
3. Wring out the clothing item and launder it as usual.

Use White Vinegar

1. Dip a microfiber cloth into a diluted white vinegar solution that’s equal parts vinegar and warm water.
2. Blot the stain with the cloth, working from the outside in.
3. Let it sit for about 5 minutes and repeat as necessary until the stain fades.
4. Wash and dry the garment.

How to Avoid Bleach Stains in the Future

• Use bleach while using protective clothing like an apron.
• Wash your hands after handling bleach or use gloves that don’t come into contact with clothing.
• Always dilute bleach according to the label’s instructions.
• When using bleach in the laundry machine, ensure the inside is thoroughly rinsed before doing another load.
• To avoid accidental spills, close the bleach bottle lid tightly and store it upright in a closed area.
• Use alternative products, like baking soda or vinegar solutions.

Tips

• Always handle with care to avoid splashes and burns. 
• Always dilute it with water!
• For clothing stains, try bleach pens for spot treatment instead of liquid bleach.
• Tackle bleach stains quickly to minimize spreading.
• Neutralize the bleached area with baking soda to prevent further discoloration.
• Repurpose a once-ruined items by creating your own designs and patterns.