How to Get Pink Stains Out of White Clothes? (Step-by-Step Guide)

Have you ever wondered how to get pink stains out of white clothes? If so, one possible reason could be throwing a red shirt in with a batch of whites. Sometimes, the pink streaks may come from lipstick or other makeup products. Continue reading to learn how to solve this problem using appropriate methods.

Accidental Color-Bleeding

Follow the procedures below if you’ve opened your washing machine and found that your whites have turned pink. Do them before putting any of your clothes in the dryer to avoid making the color bleeding worse. These steps will give you the best chance of getting them back to their original color.

Separate the Bleeding Item

First, you need to pull out the item that caused the color bleeding from the washer. Separate it so it won’t damage more. Wash it later with other clothes of the same colors.

Next, examine each item for any signs of discoloration. For clothes that have not been affected by the color bleed, toss them in the dryer or hang them to dry.

If there are garments still stained by the color-bleed, make sure to remove them quickly. If you’re unsure whether they’re stained, compare the garment to another white cloth. This way, you can immediately identify which garments have been affected by color.

Check Garment Care Tags

Don’t forget to check care labels. Remember that excessive soaking can damage some fabrics. Garment labels will indicate the appropriate washing temperature. When you see a triangle with a cross through it, that means “do not bleach.”

Bleach-safe fabrics include linen, cotton, polyester, nylon, rayon, and acrylic. Wool, mohair, silk, leather, and spandex are examples of textiles that should not be bleached.

For laundry-related tasks, oxygen-based or non-chlorine bleach is far safer and less harsh than chlorine bleach, although too much of it might damage certain fabrics.

You’re ready to begin once you’ve determined which clothing you may safely treat.

Rewash Stained Clothes

Ensure that you have already removed the garment that caused the color-bleeding from the washer. Then, treat all stained clothes with oxygen bleach.

Soak the stained garments for up to 5 minutes in the bleach and water solution. You can do this in a washtub or sink following the product instructions. Swirl the items in the bleach solution with a spoon to ensure they’re fully submerged.

When treating stains, know the difference between oxygen bleach and chlorine bleach. They’re two completely different substances. Use chlorine bleach cautiously, as it can fade colors and damage clothes. You’ll also get the best results if you use a powdered oxygen-based bleach mixture rather than a liquid.

If the pink color has faded after 5 minutes of soaking, you shouldn’t continue soaking for an additional 5 minutes. Rinse the item instead, and then repeat the process.

When working with a bleach and water solution, it’s always advisable to repeat a treatment rather than trying a harsher solution or a lengthened soaking period.

Both high-efficiency and ordinary washers are safe to use with oxygen bleach. They function well whether the water is cold or hot. If you’re using icy-cold water, dilute the bleach in one quart of hot water first.

When using bleach, make sure you use protective gloves and follow all of the product’s instructions. Run the cycle as long as possible with as much agitation as necessary. Instead of bleach, you can also use one cup of white distilled vinegar.

Pull the garments out of the solution with the spoon to observe if the color is coming off. It only takes a few minutes for the stain to come off. Sometimes, it could take longer.

After soaking, pour out the solution and thoroughly rinse the stained clothes with cool tap water.

Check the Clothes Again

After rewashing, inspect each piece of clothing again for any traces of stains. If there are still clothes with stains, immerse them in a freshly diluted oxygen bleach solution. After that, you’ll have to launder them again.

Check the garments once more, and repeat if required. Be patient if you need to repeat several times, as it is the most effective approach to remove the stain without destroying the cloth.

If the bleach and water solution does not remove the pink color after multiple treatments, use a reducing bleach instead. These products are known as “color removers.”

You can buy color removers from fabric, hardware, and craft stores. But remember, you can only use them on all-white clothing. If you use it with colored garments, this harsh substance will remove all dyes.

You could also use a color catcher sheet to rewash the clothes separately. If the stain persists, you may cut a lemon in half and apply the juice on the stain before exposing the clothing to direct sunlight for a brief time.

Rinse and Launder

Try washing the affected items again once the stain is no longer visible. You have to run the entire load through another rinse cycle to remove any remaining chlorine.

Air Dry

Clothes that came out with the undesired color completely gone can go in the dryer, if there is any stain left on the white garment, the heat from the dryer will cause it to set in the fabric, making it more difficult to remove. So, to be safe, allow the clothes to air dry. 

While wet, very pale stains may not show up, look for any residual dye once it has dried. If there is still some pink on the clothing, soak the items again and wash as necessary to remove the remaining dye.

Removing Color Stains After Drying

If the stains are still apparent after you’ve dried the clothes, look for commercial laundry cleansers used to remove color bleed.

To make sure this product will work with your clothes, read all of the instructions on the packaging. Follow the manufacturer’s directions while mixing the product.

Direct Stains

Color-bleeding is one thing, but if you’ve smudged lipstick or spilled wine on your sleeve, it’s a very different story. Fortunately, removing direct pink stains from clothes is a lot easier than getting rid of color-bleeding stains. Here are some tips for you to consider:

Makeup Stains

• Using a white, moist cloth, tissue, or paper towel, wipe away any excess makeup. You can also use a cotton ball. Before treating the fabric, blot out as much of the stain as possible.
• For makeup stains, try rubbing alcohol as alcohol-based solvents work well.
• You may also try hand sanitizer to the back of the makeup stain. Blot it away with a cotton ball until the stain is gone.
• You can also try hairspray to blot away the pink spots. Allow 3-5 minutes for the stain to set.
• Combine one cup of non-chlorine bleach or distilled vinegar with your regular detergent. Then wash the stained garment.
• If the stain is still visible, soak the clothing in ¼ cup hydrogen peroxide, oxygen booster, baking soda, and vinegar from 15 minutes to overnight.
• Repeat these methods until the stain is removed, and don’t tumble dry your clothes until it’s gone.

Pro Tips: Always test any product on a tiny portion of the clothing before applying it to the entire garment.

Berry Stains

There is no need for an alcohol-based solvent with stains caused by berries. Here’s what you can do instead:

• Pour hot or recently boiled water immediately onto the stain. To avoid injury, use caution when handling hot water.
• You may add some dishwashing detergent if desired.
• You may also use commercial stain removers as they are also highly effective. Make sure to follow the label’s instructions and try the product in a small area first.
• Another option is to dampen the soiled area and apply a tiny amount of dishwashing detergent in a circular motion with a towel. The stain should vanish after enough rubbing.
• If a faint stain remains, cut a lemon in half and rub the juice into the stain before exposing the white fabric to direct sunshine. It’s another efficient method for removing stains from white garments.

Pink Wine Stains

1. Begin by dabbing the wine stain with a damp white cotton cloth. Doing this will help absorb any excess wine.
2. Apply a homemade cleaning solution made from ¼ cup hydrogen peroxide, 2 tbsp castile soap, and lemon essential oil, and mix gently.
3. Sprinkle baking soda or hydrogen peroxide on the stain, if necessary, then re-spray and agitate.
4. Allow 15 minutes to pass before washing the stained garment with cool water.
5. If the wine stain remains, soak for as short as 15 minutes to overnight with 1 tsp of laundry detergent mixed with ¼ cup baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, or a scoop of oxygen booster.

Summary

You don’t have to wonder anymore how to get pink stains out of white clothes. You can easily remove pink stains following the tips above, whether you’ve accidentally color-bled from a laundry wash or directly from a makeup accident, a spilled wine, or smudged your shirt with a strawberry pie.