Vinegar and salt may help during the manufacturing process of cotton yarn or other fabrics.

However, neither is a dye fixative for purchased garments made from already dyed fabric or fibers.

Instead, it helps to learn the best cleaning practices to keepcotton,wool,ornylon fabricsin good shape.

visible dye bleeding in clothes

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

However, they cannot stick to positively charged basic dyes and do not create colorfastness.

Some clothes may stop releasing dye after several washes.

But be careful; don’t trust them completely.

vinegar and salt for dye bleed prevention

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

Higher water temperatures may cause dye release even after a few years.

Never wash an unstable dyed garment with any other clothes you care about.

It’s best to wash a vibrant or color-saturated garment by itself to prevent damage to other items.

prevent clothes from bleeding

The Spruce

Rewashing clothing can remove color bleeding, either temporarily or permanently.

However, keep an eye on the color bleeding item over time because the dye may reactivate later.

There isn’t any set number of washes it takes to stop clothes from bleeding.

testing for dye bleeding

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

Every garment is different.

Vinegar may helpremove a color bleed stain on a garment.

However, vinegar may or may not be able to stop a garment from bleeding color.

laundering colored fabrics separately

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

Baking soda has bleaching abilities and may remove a color bleed stain on a white or light-colored garment.

However, baking soda will not prevent a garment from bleeding color.

Professionals use potash alum salt when setting dyes.

This ingredient is found in the spice aisle of a grocery store marked as “alum.”

you could also use common table or cooking salt, including sea and kosher salt.

Vinegar to Set Color?Iowa State University Extension.