Bleaching Colored Clothing

I've experimented over the years, doing things like this and my experience is screaming "Don't even try this"!!!!! You are NOT going to get the end result you want..........PLUS you're going to totally ruin (what sounds to me is) a perfectly good dress.

I agree with Grandma Margie and if you try to bleach the dress you will not be happy with the results. It will probably turn out to be a "dirty gray" color when you are finished, or worse, come out looking like a bad tie-dye attempt. If you still are determined to try this, I would call a dry-cleaner and ask them if they have experience in this, or try calling a bridal shop and see if they know of anyone that they could recommend to you.

I'm not really for sure, but if it were mine I'd leave
leave the dress as it is.

I honestly don't think it's possible to get good results with such an extreme color change. Just can't go from black to white.

Sorry - you can't do anything with a black dress - unless you want to apply bleach in a tie dye fashion and make a pattern - but doesn't sound like it will go with a satin/lace dress

I have to agree with the other posts.

The type of fabric matters when doing a home dye.

Cotton is usally best. Synthenic fabrics are tricker if not impossible to dye.

Hope this helps.

I dyed a cream colored satin, lace & pearls dress a beautiful burgandy for my sister's wedding and had no problems with holes or anything. The dress was worn by my Granddaughter as the flower girl in my wedding 6 years ago. My sister's wedding was a year after mine. The only thing that didn't actually dye well was the lace part...it was just a bit lighter than the rest of the dress. It was beautiful, though. I used Rit dye on it and what I did was put the dye in the kitchen (stainless steel) sink full of water. I used regular bleach to clean up the sink afterwards.

If I remember correctly, my daughter went from black satin to white one time using Rit color remover on a satin dress...it didn't go white, but rather a really pretty silvery gray.

I say, if you don't like the dress (for whatever reason) and don't care what other color it will go, why not try it?

I agree that this would likely be a disaster. Even Rit Dye remover would not get this black dress to any attractive shade and would probably ruin the fabric. I wouldn't waste the time, money or aggrevation on trying this.

If you want to dye it because it's faded then just redye with black RIT. If you want a white one take it to a seamstress and ask for a duplicate white dress. Try to bleach it and it's toast.

Agree with all the other comments don't bleach a black dress. That's a nightmare waiting to happen.

Ya, probably not a good idea. You could always buy a new one.
http://www.herblackdress.com

I may be late getting to the party, here, but- I've got 3 dresses bleaching in stages as we speak. I've had black t shirts go to a pleasant cream in the past but it depends on the fab, for sure- one of the dresses I'm working on now is black, polyester/rayon, its down to a dense dark grey (think wool slacks) and beautiful but I'm working to get it lighter. That's why I came here. If you fill the tub and add your bleach and be certain to fully submerge and wash about your material, nothing will turn up a 'tie-dyed disaster'. Be brave. Use your head. Do what you do carefully. Good luck.

I have a lace dress. It's black and I would like to dye it red. How do I do it?

bleach can have strange effects on black mostly turning it a dark orange or yellow but if you want to take the risk get a bucket fill it 2 parts water 1 part bleach let the dress soak for about and hour to an hour and 30 min once its done that take it out and soak it in vinegar for a few min to stop the bleaching process then dry it hopefully your dress will be black if not at last your ready for Halloween!?

I don't really think bleaching anything that is lace will bleach I think it only rips not sure but I'm pretty sure for you , you won't get the results you are expecting to get

A dry cleaner firm may be able to match your whites, however, may be difficult even then.

My guess is the lace would bleach but the mesh won't, assuming we're talking about two different compositions of fabrics here. Also, bleach is tricky. It can be splotchy when you're done.

What product did you use to dye the shirts?

Bleach them and let it soak in a mixture of bleach and water for 15 minutes. Then Machine wash it

Why not just look for another one in white? Then you will have two. You can use RIT dye remover with uncertain results, and maybe a smell you can't completely remove.

Or you can bleach, which may not work if material is synthetic, and may weaken fiber if it's cotton. Never use bleach on a natural fiber like silk or wool. It will dissolve/destroy it.

Leave the poor shirt in peace and go shopping.