Why new coloured clothes bleed in the wash

Short answer: New clothes release surplus dye in the first washes. Wash new, strong colours on their own a couple of times and you will avoid ruining light clothes.

Surplus dye

Dye that is not fully bound to the fibres is rinsed out in the first washes. That is normal and not a sign of poor quality.

Wash new items alone

For the first two or three washes, strong colours should be washed on their own. After that the bleeding usually stops.

Red and dark blue

Those two colour groups release the most. Black releases too, but it shows less often.

Wash cooler

30 degrees releases less dye than 40. If the clothes are not dirty, that is enough.

Colour catcher

A colour catcher sheet picks up some of it, but it does not replace sorting. See sorting the laundry.

If the damage is done

Wash the affected clothes again straight away, while the dye is still wet. Dried dye sets in.

General washing

The rest of the rules are in the washing guide.

New bedding and new towels

New bedding and new towels also release dye in the first washes and should be washed on their own. See bamboo bedding.

Frequently asked questions

Is bleeding a sign of poor quality?

No. Surplus dye is rinsed out of all coloured clothes in the first washes.

How many times should I wash new items alone?

Two to three times for strong colours.

Can bleeding be removed from light clothes?

Wash them again straight away while the dye is wet. Dried dye sets in.