We all know the importance of keeping our white fabrics looking bright and clean. For most of us, this means using bleach as a regular part of our laundry process. Unfortunately, using bleach can lead to yellowing and stains on our clothes, which can make them look worse than when we started. To help keep your whites looking their best, use these tips on how to remove yellow bleach stains from white clothes.
Why Did Bleach Turn My White Shirt Yellow?
Some people will say that bleach is always the best way to get out stains, but they’re wrong. If you’re using bleach on your clothing, it can cause yellowing if overused (or if it isn’t used properly).
This happens when the bleach reacts with the fabric and is especially likely to happen if used on white synthetic fibers like nylon, microfibers, or polyester.
Can Yellow Bleach Stains Be Removed from White Clothes?
Yes, it is possible to remove the yellow bleach stains on your clothes.
Stain removers such as vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and baking soda can effectively remove bleached spots from fabrics. Bleach is one of the strong chemicals that many stain removal products are not able to tackle, so it’s important to test these items on an inconspicuous area of the fabric before applying them directly to the bleached areas.
This will allow you to test whether or not these materials will cause discolorations on your clothing.
How to Remove Yellow Bleach Stains from White Clothes
Don’t throw away your white clothes the second they get a yellow stain from the bleach. Here’s how to remove the yellow discoloration and save your favorite white shirt.
Neutralizing Bleach With Baking Soda
The first thing you will have to do is neutralize the yellowish bleach stain on the white garment Baking soda is perfect for this.
- Just mix one cup of baking soda with one gallon of cold water in a large bucket or basin.
- Then submerge your stained item in the solution for about an hour, agitating every 15 minutes or so.
- Once it’s done soaking, rinse it out under cold water.
Remove Yellow Bleach Stain with Vinegar
Rinse the white fabric for several minutes
One of the easiest ways to remove yellow bleach stains is to neutralize them with cold water. Rinse your clothing under a stream of cold water for at least a minute, or if the fabric is delicate, use a spray bottle filled with cold water to rinse it instead.
Soak white vinegar on the yellow stains
Pour or spray some vinegar directly onto the stain; you don’t need to mix it with water first. Vinegar can break down the bonds between fabrics and any residue that’s been left behind by detergent or bleach, so douse those yellow spots with white vinegar to start getting rid of them.
Allow it to sit for 5 minutes
For especially stubborn stains, allow the vinegar to work for about 5 minutes before rinsing. If you’re dealing with more than one stain, treat them all with vinegar before allowing them to sit.
Rinse the area with cold water.
After letting the vinegar sit on your clothes for 10 minutes or so, rinse it out with cool water again and check that all of the residues have been removed from the garment (you can repeat this process if needed).
Check that the residue is gone
Finally, check that all traces of bleach have been successfully removed by holding up a piece of white paper underneath each part of your clothing that was stained.
Use Hydrogen Peroxide to Remove Yellow Bleach Stains
Hydrogen peroxide is an effective stain remover, especially for stains that have been set in. It will also remove any lingering bleach odor. Here’s what you’ll need:
- To get started, fill a spray bottle with hydrogen peroxide and apply it liberally to the affected area.
- To make sure you’re treating the entire stained section even spots you may have missed let the peroxide sit for a few minutes before rubbing it in gently from all angles with an old toothbrush or nail brush.
- Once you’ve cleaned the bleach-stained area, wash your white clothing as usual in hot water (the hotter the better).
- For tough stains, repeat this process until they’re completely removed; then let your clothing air-dry and revel in that crisp, clean look.
Does Bleach Turn White Shoes Yellow?
Yes, If you leave the bleach on too long, it will turn your shoes yellow. The easiest way to prevent this is to make sure you don’t over-soak your shoes. You should also be careful not to use bleach that’s too concentrated.
One of the reasons some people have problems with bleach turning their shoes yellow is that they use heavy-duty bleach, which has a higher concentration than normal household bleach.
How to Remove Yellow Bleach Stains From White Shoes
Using Shaving cream & Laundry detergent
Wipe your shoes with a damp cloth to remove any visible dirt and dust.
- Then, wipe them with a clean dry one to remove any excess moisture.
- Apply shaving cream (with foam) directly onto the yellow stains on your shoes.
- Let sit for 15 minutes then buff clean with a rag or towel. This should remove most of the yellow stains but if there is still some residue left, continue to step 3.
- Mix one part laundry detergent with two parts warm water in a bowl or cup.
- Dip your toothbrush into the mixture and scrub into the remaining yellow stains until they are gone.
Remove Yellow Stains from White Shoes Using Vinegar
Sometimes, even the most careful people have a stain they can’t get rid of. If you’ve ever had to deal with a yellow bleach stain on white shoes, you know what I mean. So how do you remove these yellow stains? One solution is to use vinegar to clean your shoes. Here’s how to do it: 1.
- Fill a spray bottle with equal parts distilled white vinegar and warm water. Spray it on the stained areas of your shoes and let the mixture sit for about 10 minutes.
- Rinse the shoes in cold water, then lather them with a small amount of hand soap or dishwashing detergent before rinsing them in warm water again.
- Repeat steps 2 and 3 until all of the yellow stains are removed from your shoes, then dry them using a clean towel—or better yet, allow them to air-dry overnight before wearing them again to ensure they’re completely dry and prevent damage to your shoes.
How to Get Yellow Bleach Stains Out of White Sheets
- Rinse the fabric for several minutes in cold water with the yellow stain on one side. This will rinse away any excess contamination that may have caused the discoloration; any remaining residue can be treated with white vinegar or lemon juice.
- Put straight white vinegar (or lemon juice) on the yellow stains and allow it to sit for 5 minutes before rinsing them with cold water again; this should remove any remaining residue from bleaching agents like chlorine bleach or laundry detergent.
- Check that the residue is gone by inspecting both sides of the sheet under bright light; if there are still some yellow spots left after washing them twice with vinegar then repeat steps 1 through 3 until removed.
