Checklist when a colour has run

Short answer: Act quickly. Rewash straight away, use cold water, and do not let the piece dry until the colour is out. Colour that has dried in is much harder to remove.

Time matters most

When colour has run in the wash, time decides the outcome. As long as the fabric is wet, the colour sits loosely and can still be rinsed out. The longer you wait and the more the fabric dries, the harder it gets. Take the piece out of the machine as soon as you notice, and get started.

Rewash straight away

While the fabric is wet, the colour can still be rinsed out. Put the piece back in the machine and wash it in cold water. Warm water can set the colour, so always start cold. Wash it on its own or with other light clothes that cannot bleed. See bamboo sweatshirts for women.

Use cold water

Cold water is the safest choice when colour needs to come out. Heat opens the fibres and gives the colour a better chance to settle. A cold programme or a rinse in cold water in a basin can remove much of it. Repeat a couple of times if the first try does not get it all.

Do not let it dry

Drying binds the colour to the fibres and makes the stain permanent. That applies to both the line and the tumble dryer, but dryer heat is the worst. Do not hang the piece up until you are sure the colour is out. Check it wet in daylight. See bestsellers for women.

Check the rest of the load

If one item has bled, several pieces may be affected. Go through the whole load and set aside anything that has picked up colour. Treat them all the same way while they are still wet. Also find the item that bled, so it does not go into the next light wash.

Accept it when it will not come out

Sometimes the colour stays, even after several tries. The piece can still be worn at home or as a base layer, where a faint tint does not matter. That is better than washing it again and again until the fabric wears thin. A tinted T-shirt is annoying, but it can still have a life.

Sort better next time

A single new dark item can tint a whole light load. Sort laundry into light and dark, and take extra care with red, blue and black pieces. Check pockets and sleeves for small loose items that may hide among the light clothes. See the range for women.

Wash new dark items on their own

New dark pieces release the most colour in their first washes. Wash them alone the first few times, or with clothes of the same colour. Once the water no longer turns coloured, they can go in with the rest of the dark laundry. It is a small habit that saves a lot of trouble.

Frequently asked questions

What do you do when colour has run

Rewash straight away and do not let the piece dry. As long as the fabric is wet, the colour can often still be rinsed out with cold water.

Why must it not dry

Because drying binds the colour to the fibres. Colour that has dried in sits much harder and rarely comes out again.

How do you avoid it next time

Wash new dark items on their own the first few times. A single new dark item can tint a whole load of light clothes.