You may even be able to hide the accidental bleach splash by incorporating it into the final design.
Keep reading to learn how to bleach a shirt to create your own designs.
The Spruce / Michele Lee
Warning
Cleaning chemicalsparticularly bleach and hydrogen peroxideshould never be mixed.
The Spruce / Michele Lee
Chlorine bleach is frequently used to remove stains andwhiten yellowed fabrics.
It can also be used to create unique designs and change the look of colored fabrics.
But what if you only want to lighten the color a bit?
The Spruce / Michele Lee
How do you get thebleachto stop working?
Prepare a neutralizing solution that stops the bleaching action when you reach the desired color.
The neutralizing solution is made by mixing one parthydrogen peroxidewith 10 parts water.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
Mix this up before you begin your bleaching project so it is ready to use.
you’re free to mix the solution in a plastic tub, kitchen sink, or washer.
What You’ll Need
Instructions
Step 1.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
Choose Your Shirt
Choose a clean, unwrinkled shirt.
Read the label to ensure that the key in of fabric can be bleached.
Step 2.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
Prepare the Bleach Neutralizer
Have your neutralizing solution ready.
Mix one parthydrogen peroxidewith 10 parts water in a plastic tub, kitchen sink, or washer.
Step 4.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
This protective barrier will prevent the solution from bleeding to the rest of the garment or your work surface.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
Step 5.
Rinse and Neutralize
After you have finished bleaching your shirt, rinse the garment under cold water.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
Allow it to soak for 15 minutes, then rinse under cold water again.
Step 6.
Dry and Wear
Dry the shirt according to the care label and sport your new look.
The Spruce / Michele Lee
Do all the material at once if you want a uniform look.
First, wear rubber gloves and mix a solution of 3/4 cup chlorine bleach per gallon of water.
Submerge the fabric in the solution and agitate occasionally.
Pour off the bleach/water solution and immediately transfer the fabric to the neutralizing solution.
Submerge the fabric in the neutralizing solution for ten minutes.
Drain the neutralizing solution and wash the fabric as usual.
you could repeat the process if you want the fabric to be lighter.
you could also make the same look by using bleach to remove color.
You will have a more muted design with shades of color based on your original fabric.
Have the neutralizing solution at the ready.
To reverse tie-dye, mix a solution of 10 parts water and one part chlorine bleach.
Submerge the gathered and tied fabric and allow it to soak until the background fabric is the desired color.
Cut the ties holding the fabric gathers or folds.
Transfer to the neutralizing solution and allow to soak for 10 minutes.
Drain the solution and then wash as usual.
For cotton or lightweight fabrics, you should bleach garments when they are dry.
Soaking a garment in peroxide after it has been bleached is important as it stops the bleaching process.
Depending on the color of the shirt, it may lighten or completely whiten to a new shade.
Dangers of Mixing Bleach with Cleaners.Washington State Department of Health.
