You think you have found the perfect garment—that is, until you wear it and it rubs off on your skin, bag, car seat, furniture, or other clothing OR it bleeds in the washing machine, staining all your other clothes, too. Both scenarios are a result of color transfer by crocking and bleeding.
Crocking is color transfer that occurs when fabric rubs against something, such as skin, other clothing, furniture, shoes, etc. Crocking happens when the garment dye has not properly adhered to or set into the garment fabric. If you have ever worn a new pair of new jeans and sat on something light colored or worn a light colored top and noticed blue streaks or coloration on the lighter color, it is because the excess dye on the surface of the garment that is has rubbed or crocked off. Removing dye transfer by crocking is not always an easy task and may result in a permanent stain or discoloration.
Bleeding occurs when fabric dye leaches out in water or dry cleaning solvent; if the garment being laundered is mixed with other item, the released dye can bleed onto the other items in the load causing discoloration. Depending on the other items, color removal after bleeding is not always successful. Bleeding also causes the original garment to fade or lose color.
Crocking and bleeding are of concern to consumers because of the mess or damage the transfer causes. Garments with deeply dyed, dark fabrics are most prone to color transfer. Reasons for transfer usually begins with the fabric manufacturer where a poor quality dye or incorrect dye was used for the fabric or fiber type, dyeing was incorrectly done, improper rinsing after dyeing, or lack of (or an improper) mordant or fixer was used to bind the dye to the fiber, yarn, or fabric. A common myth is that washing the product in vinegar or salt “fixes” the color and prevents it from crocking or bleeding. Unfortunately, this is not the case. If salt or vinegar has been tried and it seemed to work, it is only because the free dye remnants were removed in the washing. Acids help set some acid dyes in the dyeing process. While vinegar is an acid, attempting to use it after the fact, offers no “fixing” protection. Salt is used in the dyeing process to open the fiber to absorb dye but has no effect on “fixing” after dyeing is complete.
Here are some ways which will help reduce crocking or bleeding the next time you are contemplating purchase of a black, red, navy or brilliantly colored garment:
- Be a Label Reader. If the tag says “wash separately”, expect the dye to bleed during washing. Wash the garment alone per directions the first time and note what you see in the water. Additional washings may be necessary to remove any excess dye. Removal of the excess dye will also prevent crocking. However, eac washing will also cause fading or lose of color.
- Use a Color Fixative. Color fixative products reduce color bleed in fabrics when the dye has not been properly fixed or thoroughly rinsed. These dye fixatives can “fix” loose dyes and prevent color bleeding. Retayne™ or Rit®ColorStay Dye Fixative are two products that reduce color bleeding in cotton fabrics. Retayne™ is a liquid cationic dye fixing agent used as a pretreatment on commercially dyed cotton fabrics that tend to bleed easily. Retayne does NOT work in energy efficient front loading machines as they do not supply enough water to properly treat the fabric. Top loading machines or using a tub of sufficient size (must be large enough for garment to move freely) are recommended. A water temperature of 140°F is also needed for treatment to work properly. This treatment only needs to be done once. Rit®ColorStay Dye Fixative treatment is similar to Retayne™. The procedure is much the same using hot water and treating before first use or laundering. With either product, carefully follow the manufacturer’s directions for treating and laundering after treatment. Be aware that neither product works on polyester or acrylic fabrics.
- Color Catcher Sheets. Chemically treated sheets are added to the laundry water to absorb and trap loose dye in the water. The sheets contain compounds that attract dye molecules that leach out of colored fabrics and trap them in the sheets preventing color transfer to other clothing. While the sheets work well, they are not totally reliable. Washing with like colors is the only way to prevent color transfer.
- Wash with Like Colors. Regardless of age, the chemical fixers or mordants used to hold dye in the fibers, yarns, or fabrics can wear off after repeated washing. Washing like colors helps prevent color run should there be any.
- Dry Quickly. Remove items from the washing machine at the end of the cycle as soon as possible. Color transfer is more likely to take place as the wet items lay close together.
Fading is the gradual lose of color due to wear, tear, and care of the garment. The dye gradually looses it’s vibrancy and strength as the mordant washes out of the garment; hot water expedites mordant lose. Friction can also cause fading due to the micro-breaks in the fibers or yarns that release dye. Fading is more of a problem with natural fibers like cotton, wool, and silk due to their fibrous structure; synthetic fibers, like polyester, nylon, acrylic derived from chemical compounds, hold dye better. Exposure to bleach or light further add to fading. Here are some ways to keep fading to a minimum:
- Read and Follow the Care Label Directions. These labels stipulate best care practices as determined by the garment manufacturer.
- Pretreat Stains. Use appropriate products for the stain type and fiber content. There is no miracle product that will remove all stains.
- Launder Minimally. Clothing is often washed because it is perceived to be dirty or smelly even though lightly used. Airing a garment or using an odor eliminator can often remove odors. Small spots can be spot treated. Always use the setting on the machine that best suits the soil of the items to be laundered. Hand wash delicates.
- Use Cool or Cold Water. Warm or hot water can make fibers or yarns swell resulting in the release of color.
- Reduce Friction. Agitation by rubbing increases garment wear and fade. Turn garments wrong-side out to protect the face fabric. Close zippers and metal hardware pieces. The same is true for garments dried in the dryer. Using the dryer minimally helps reduces friction, too; heat is hard on dark and bright colors and tumbling agitation makes them appear faded. Fabric softeners also help reduce friction.
- Minimize Light Exposure. If line drying outside, remove clothes as soon as they are dry to minimize UV exposure. Keep lights off in closets as incandescent lights can also cause fading.
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and AnswerLine do not endorse or recommend any products mentioned in this blog. Reference to any commercial product, process, or service, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporate name is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement, recommendation, or certification of any kind. Persons using such products assume responsibility for their use and should make their own assessment of the information and whether it is suitable for their intended use in accordance with current directions of the manufacturer.
Reviewed 2/2025, mg.
