Bleach got into the wash by accident

Short answer: Chlorine removes colour permanently and weakens the fibre. Rinse immediately with cold water and accept that the colour will not come back on its own.

What chlorine does

Chlorine bleach breaks down the dye molecules. That cannot be undone. At the same time chlorine attacks the cellulose fibre in bamboo viscose and weakens the fabric exactly where it landed, so a hole can appear later.

The first step

Rinse the area thoroughly under cold running water straight away so the reaction stops. Then wash the garment on its own with no detergent. The longer the chlorine sits, the bigger the pale patch grows.

What you can do afterwards

On a plain dark garment a fabric dye can even the colour out again, though the result is rarely identical. On white it makes no difference and the garment stays usable. See bamboo t-shirts for men.

How to avoid it

Keep bleach and stain removers well away from the machine. Use oxygen bleach on whites, since it works on soil without attacking colour and fibre in the same way. See bamboo underwear for women and bamboo clothing for women.

Frequently asked questions

Can the colour come back

No. Chlorine destroys the dye, and the only route is redyeing the garment.

Is oxygen bleach also risky

No, it is far milder and is used precisely because it barely bleaches coloured fabric.

Does the fabric get weaker

Yes, locally. Expect that spot to give way earlier than the rest.