When a colour has run in the wash
Short answer: If a colour has run onto light clothes, wash them again right away. Dried colour sets and is much harder to remove, so the most important thing is to act while the clothes are still wet.
Wash again right away
As long as the colour is wet, it sits loosely in the fibres and can be rinsed out. Soak the clothes in cold water and wash them again on their own, so they do not meet more loose colour. Repeat the wash if there is still a shadow of colour before you dry them.
Do not dry them
A tumble dryer or warm air fixes the colour so it stays. Always check the clothes carefully in daylight before they go in the dryer or on a warm radiator. If in doubt, wash them once more. That is easier than trying afterwards.
Why it happens
New coloured clothes release excess dye in the first washes, because not all of the colour is bound to the fibres. Dark and strong colours such as red, navy and black release the most. It does not mean the clothes are poor. See why new coloured clothes run in the wash.
Sorting
Sort the laundry by colour: whites on their own, lights on their own and darks on their own. Wash new coloured clothes alone or with clothes in the same colour the first few times. It takes a little longer but saves you from colour run. Read more about sorting the laundry.
Temperature
A lower temperature releases less colour, because warm water opens the fibres and lets the dye loose. 30 degrees is enough for lightly soiled clothes, and much gets clean at even lower temperatures. Only turn it up if the clothes are very dirty, and never wash new coloured clothes hot the first time.
Do not overfill the machine
An overfilled machine means more rubbing between clothes and less water to rinse loose dye away. Then the colour settles on other clothes more easily. Fill the drum about three quarters, so the clothes can move freely. It also gives a better wash and less wear.
See the range
Basics like T-shirts are worn and washed often, and they come in both light and dark colours. Wash the dark ones separately the first few times, and keep the whites apart from anything coloured. Then the colours stay nice for a long time. See the basics in bamboo T-shirts for men.
Washing
Use a mild detergent without bleach and let the clothes air dry. Wash inside out to protect the colour, and avoid the tumble dryer. This keeps both colour and fabric looking better for longer. The rest of the rules are in the washing guide.
Bedding and towels
New bedding and new towels release the most colour, because there is a lot of fabric in each wash. Wash them separately the first few times, preferably at a low temperature, and keep them away from light clothes. Dark bedding should never be washed with white sheets. See bamboo bedding.
When the colour will not come out
If the colour has dried in and gone into the fibres, it can be hard to remove completely. A few extra washes in cold water can make the shadow fainter. Do not use strong stain removers on bamboo fabric without testing them on a hidden spot first.
Frequently asked questions
Can colour run be removed?
Often yes, if the clothes are washed again while the colour is still wet. Soak them in cold water and wash them again on their own before drying.
What makes it permanent?
Heat. A tumble dryer and warm air fix the colour in the fibres. Always check the clothes before drying and wash them again if there is colour on them.
How do I avoid it?
Sort by colour, wash new coloured clothes separately the first few times and use a low temperature. Do not overfill the machine, so loose dye can be rinsed away.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
