Treating colour run

Dark items can shed colour during the wash cycle. This is especially common with dark denim. If you wash dark items with light items, there is a risk that the loose dye will leach out and stain the light items. This is called colour run.

The best way to remove colour run is with a specialist colour run remover product. There are a few colour run products on the market. Most are pH-neutral, meaning they are safe for all fabrics including silk and wool. They are sold at supermarkets (laundry aisle), craft stores (for example, Spotlight) or ordered from an online marketplace like Amazon.

Be aware that some colour run products are specifically designed for use with white and colourfast materials. If you need to treat non-colourfast items, ensure you use the correct product.

Although chlorine bleach is fantastic at treating organic stains (for example, food or poo), it has a limited effect on colour run.

Some fabric dyes are particularly unstable and will wash out over time naturally. Adding colour catcher sheets in your wash cycle helps to trap loose dye during the wash.

Reducing the risk of colour run in your nappy washes

Sticking to white and light-coloured items removes the risk of colour run, but this suggestion is not always practical. Many bright and dark-coloured items are fine to include in your main wash as long as you take some precautions.

To reduce the risk, wash any new coloured and dark items separately until you are certain they won’t shed dye in the wash. Excess or unstable dye generally leaches out during the first few warm/hot washes. If you are unsure, add a colour catcher sheet or microfibre cloth to the wash to soak up any loose dye.