a known bleeder
 

I have a red and white stripe fabric, cut into about 5 -6" squares, where the red is a known bleeder into the white if I get it wet. Washing until it "bleeds out" only makes the white pink. What should I do to save the remainder of the unwashed squares?

Soak them in Retayne with a color catcher in with them.

I would wash them repeatedly in Synthropol until the red stops bleeding. Synthrapol should stop the loose red particles from tinting the white pink.

I would toss them, not worth the time and trouble to me.

i agree with above........I rarely use red because of its bad record....

There are two types of bleeders: fabric that has been over-saturated with dye, and fabric in which the dye has not been set properly.

The former just means that the manufacturer did not rinse the fabric enough to get rid of all the excess dye. Fabric fibers can absorb only so much dye; the excess is supposed to be rinsed out. If this is the issue with your fabric, repeated washings with Synthrapol will get rid of the excess dye and keep the white fabric from getting tinted with the excess red dye. Synthrapol suspends loose dye particles in water so they don't have a chance to set into fabric. Even with the piece that already turned the white pink, you can throw it in with the other squares and Synthrapol should be able to gradually free the loose dye particles from the white. This is because the red dye particles are not permanently set into the white. Most dyes these days require specific chemicals to permanently set the dye and/or high temperatures (higher than are achieved in domestic washing machines and dryers). This is why the dye particles in the white fabric are most likely not there permanently and, even with regular washing, will eventually come out.

The second type of problem means that the fabric keeps bleeding no matter how many times you wash it. I toss this type of fabric because chances are the dye color will not only keep bleeding with every wash, it may "crock" onto other fabrics (such as your clothes). Crocking is dye transfer in the absence of water; just rubbing the fabric transfers loose dye particles.

It's true that Retayne will permanently set dye. However, it doesn't continue to work if the fabric is later washed in hot water. Since we often don't know how our quilts are going to be washed, I really don't want to use that kind of fabric in my quilts. It's okay to use it in a wall hanging that won't be washed, or that will only be washed in cold water. Also, Retayne is useful only if you don't mind the white becoming pink. Retayne will permanently set all of the red dye -- including any of the loose dye particles that have settled into the white. Aside from the fact that the "permanent" setting of dye with Retayne is a bit of an exaggeration (since it is not permanent in hot water), Retayne is really only useful if the fabric is substantially one color or if you don't mind some dye bleeding into the other colors in the fabric.

p.s. Dawn liquid detergent is supposed to work in a very similar manner to Synthrapol. I haven't tried this myself, but I know there are websites that explain how it works. If you are in a hurry, Dawn might be worth a try.

I read only the original Dawn, not the concentrated or other blends. Also Purex makes a No Sort laundry detergent. It has color catcher in the detergent. I use it to wash all my quilts.

I agree with this.

Of the reds I have - only three or four of them were bleeders.

I have had a least one of EVERY color bleed - including yellow.

I wouldn't use them.

Synthrapol lifts the color from the item and Retayne sets it. I have both and have used them both, and I generally include washing instructions with gifted quilts....In most cases a cold wash and a cooler dry. Understand that very few people are going to line dry....most will use a dryer. I looked up both Synthrapol and Retayne and the computer to understand the difference......good luck with your squares. Once made, one hates to give them up

Thanks, I'll look for that type of Purex.

Same here. Bleeders of every colors. If it's chronic, I throw them away. Too stressful to think that it might stop now temporarily but start again later. I can live with waste--short term loss, but disappointment and heartbreak are terrible for a long time.

Am I not understanding problem? Why not use color catchers. I buy my at Big Lots for a good price. I had a friend wash some white that had red bleed on it and she used color catcher (by Shout) and wash several times and red finally came out.

This will not work for a bleeder fabric when the bleeding is caused by a fault in manufacturing which causes none of the dye to be permanently set. In this case, the bleeding will continue indefinitely. If this fabric is used in a quilt which is subsequently gifted to someone who does not use color catchers, they will think they have done something wrong when the bleeding dye tints the quilt.

On a different note, washing a quilt multiple times to remove unwanted dye bleeds is hard on a quilt. It is better to prevent the problem in the first place.

Edit: It's also important to note that color catchers are effective only with light bleeds. It's rare to encounter a heavy bleeder fabric these days, but it does happen. When you have a fabric that bleeds a *lot*, color catchers will not be enough to catch all of the dye bleed and the excess will settle into other fabrics.

I love this answer.

I would toss it - not worth my time to worry about it.

Toss, it's not worth ruining another quilt with bad fabric.

Thanks, folks.....out they go

Don't use them.i had the same problem. I tried everything to stop the bleeding. Thought it was good...it wasn't. The cheapskate in me used it anyway. Guess what I have some pinkish whites. Save yourself the aggravation.

I always put my bleeding fabric into the washing machine along with a box of baking soda. Fill the machine with warm water and agitate for a minute or so to dissolve the baking soda. Turn the washing machine off and let is soak overnight and then in the morning let it go through the regular cycle without detergent. It will remove the "pink" from your white stripes and also set the red in the rest of your fabric. I was taught this by a woman who owned a fabric store and I have used it for years with excellent results.

I have had a lot of different colors bleed, but I check them BEFORE I CUT. There is a dye fixative made by Rit Dye Company (distributed by Phoenix Brands) which I use and which will permanently set the dyes in fabrics. I use it on every red I've ever used, and I've tested the fabric in hot water AFTER treatment. I've had other colors bleed, including a very deep blue/black printed fabric. As mentioned above, I will treat the fabric and test it once the treatment process is completed. If it still bleeds, it's gone -- I won't put that much work in a quilt and then have it ruined by washing. AND, DISCRETION BEING THE BETTER PART OF VALOR, I WILL WASH ALL QUILTS USING COLOR CATCHERS IN THE WASH.

I have no financial interest in Rit Dye Company or Phoenix Brands. I just use the Rit Laundry Treatment Dye Fixative on fabrics that initially bleed, and I DO re-test the fabrics after treatment -- the product works!