| Perhaps the most publicized examples of the effects | | | | the bleach stain. Rinse with cold water and repeat. |
| of chlorine bleach are those cases where paper plants | | | | Vinegar has been used traditionally as a color |
| have used bleach to break down proteins and fibers in | | | | restoration solution for a very long time. Not only does |
| paper products. The chemicals left over from the | | | | it immediately neutralize any bleach agents left in the |
| bleaching process are some of the most notorious and | | | | fabric, but the acids in vinegar (acetic acid) will help |
| powerful carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) known | | | | dissolve or peel away any damaged fabric that may |
| to man, and oftentimes they're simply poured out into | | | | be causing a bleach stain to stand out. |
| lakes and streams nearby. | | | | Warning: Vinegar will eventually damage cotton fabrics |
| There's an ongoing investigation and legal battle | | | | with enough exposure, so use white vinegar |
| regarding Georgia Pacific's (a large paper-producing | | | | conservatively when treating bleach stains. |
| corporation) disposal of toxic waste in people's | | | | * If vinegar and sodium thiosulfate aren't getting rid of |
| backyards, people who now have higher rates of | | | | your bleach stain, you should consider Marvy Fabric |
| cancer than anywhere else in the region. | | | | Markers to cover up the discoloration. The alternative |
| For some people, the best option is to stop using | | | | to the Marvy Fabric Marker is the Sharpie permanent |
| bleach and instead make do with the very good | | | | marker. Both options are just as effective at covering |
| alternatives listed below, under the heading "natural | | | | up bleach stains. |
| bleach alternatives." If, however, you aren't willing to | | | | You can find Marvy Fabric Markers in almost any |
| make the switch right now, it's completely | | | | craft or fabric store, and they're made in a variety of |
| understandable. But to get to the crux of the matter, | | | | colors. If you're lucky, you may just find the color that |
| this article is about removing or repairing stains leftover | | | | works for whatever it is you've bleached. |
| by chlorine bleach. | | | | Fabric Markers are usually safe to wash, but never |
| Bleach Stain Removal/Repair | | | | use a bleaching agent on that fabric again as it'll come |
| * For an immediate treatment of a bleach stain, you | | | | out worse than before. Test the marker on a clean |
| may want to consider Sodium Thiosulfate. Sodium | | | | white rag before applying it to your fabric, to make |
| Thiosulfate, also called photographic fixer, is an agent | | | | sure it's the right shade for your needs. |
| that has been used as a way to neutralize the | | | | * This might sound a little dubious, but drying your |
| bleaching effects of other substances. In other words, | | | | clothes in direct sunlight to lighten the color surrounding |
| it neutralizes bleaching agents, and helps restore | | | | the bleach stain is an effective method. It may not |
| fabrics or surfaces that have been bleached. | | | | sound very practical, but at this point, you're running out |
| Sodium thiosulfate can be used as an immediate spot | | | | of options. Sunlight has a very powerful bleaching |
| treatment to neutralize bleach before it stains your | | | | effect. Ask any piece of driftwood and it'll tell you the |
| fabric. You can blot the stain with a clean white cloth | | | | same thing. |
| that has been dipped in S.T. first until the stain either | | | | According to Ellen Sandbeck, author of Organic |
| begins to disappear or the fabric becomes saturated. | | | | Housekeeping, laying a bleach-stained piece of fabric |
| Rinse with cold water and repeat until the desired | | | | over a bush or a grass lawn in direct sunlight will |
| effect is achieved or no more progress is made. | | | | increase the bleaching effects of the sun because of |
| Unfortunately, this product isn't easy to find. | | | | the oxygen (another powerful bleaching agent) |
| * If you're trying to remove or repair a bleach stain | | | | produced by the vegetation beneath. Make sure you |
| without the use of laboratory-grade chemicals, the first | | | | shake those clothes off before bringing them inside. |
| thing you should try is white vinegar. Go get yourself | | | | * The last resort in your battle to remove bleach stains |
| some Heinz white vinegar or even the generic stuff. | | | | is the color stripper. Color stripper, otherwise known as |
| Soak a clean white cloth with the vinegar and start | | | | color remover, is what you use to take color out of a |
| dabbing/blotting the stain. Keep doing this until the fabric | | | | garment or fabric before re-dying it a new color. |
| won't hold anymore vinegar in the immediate vicinity of | | | | |