Is OxiClean bad for colored clothes?

Author: Jules Hackett  |  Last update: Thursday, December 25, 2025

OxiClean™ is free of chlorine and preservatives, so it's safe on colors and gentle on your clothing – without sacrificing performance or leaving chemical residues. Many detergents break down the fibers and dyes in laundry as they clean, causing severe fading overtime.

Will OxiClean ruin colored clothes?

OxiClean can be used on colored clothes, but caution is advised. While it is generally safe for most colorfast fabrics, it can cause fading or discoloration on some colors. Here are some tips:

What fabrics can you not use OxiClean on?

It's safe on most fabrics except for wool, silk, and leather. There are multiple versions. I like them regular Oxiclean best. The white revive should be used for whites only since it has optical brighteners that will dull colors more quickly.

Does OxiClean bleach color?

OxiClean™ White Revive™ Laundry Whitener & Stain Remover is a non-chlorine bleach alternative. It has oxygen bleach and is color safe, so you can use it on white items that might have stripes, logos or other forms of coloration!

Will OxiClean remove color run?

Oxyclean will fade dark clothes and colored clothes because it has a bleaching effect when you use too much or soaked for a long time. Also because hot water causes clothes to lose their color pigments into water. Hot water also sets in stains in clothes.

How to Keep Clothes from Fading with OxiClean™

Can OxiClean cause color bleeding?

OxiClean™ Max Force™ Laundry Stain Remover Spray is color safe.

How to fix accidentally dyed clothes?

Try Vinegar or Oxygen-Based Bleach

Vinegar and oxygen-based bleach are effective solutions for tackling color bleed on clothes. They work well to restore fabric dyed unintentionally without causing further damage. Mix white vinegar with an equal part of water to create a solution capable of reversing color bleed.

Is there a color safe stain remover?

OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover Free. It's the go-to laundry stain remover, without any perfumes or dyes! OxiClean™ Versatile Remover Free is the non-chlorine bleach and color-safe laundry additive powder that can help tackle tough stains on laundry and just about any other surface in your home.

What is the best laundry detergent?

The Best Laundry Detergent
  • Top pick. Tide Ultra Oxi Powder Laundry Detergent. ...
  • Top pick. Tide Free & Gentle Liquid Laundry Detergent. ...
  • Runner-up. Persil Original Liquid Detergent Everyday Clean. ...
  • Best for... Tide Pods Free & Gentle Laundry Detergent. ...
  • Best for... Dirty Labs Free & Clear Bio Laundry Detergent.

Why not to use OxiClean?

OxiClean cannot be used on wool, silk, leather or anything else that cannot be washed with water. It also is not recommended on rust and other metallic stains because of the oxidation process. I had persistent carpet stains on my staircase.

Can you use OxiClean on colored sheets?

If you have sweat stains on your non-white sheets, blankets, mattress protector, or pillowcases, OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover is the formula you need. It's safe for color-fast fabric and will brighten colors as well as remove the sweat stains.

Is OxiClean just baking soda?

OxiClean contains several ingredients, but the important one for boosting and brightening laundry is sodium percarbonate — basically, dry hydrogen peroxide plus washing soda (also called sodium carbonate, which is very similar to but not exactly baking soda).

Can you use OxiClean on cream colored clothes?

OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover is chlorine-free and safe on all colors. It works in HE and standard washing machines and can help boost any type of laundry detergent. Always refer to the packaging for directions and follow the recommended laundry instructions on the item's care label.

Will hydrogen peroxide ruin colored clothes?

Also, it's worth noting that hydrogen peroxide can bleach colored clothes, similar to how it whitens whites. While this may seem beneficial, overuse could remove the color vibrance of your favorite clothes. To avoid this, use hydrogen peroxide sparingly on colored clothes or perform a patch test before using it.

Is Tide with Oxi safe on colors?

No pretreating, bleach, stain removers, or additives necessary— Tide White and Bright takes care of white laundry in one simple step while being safe on all colors. Formulated with coldzymes, Tide Ultra OXI White and Brights gives you the ability to clean, even in cold water.

Is OxiClean safe on colors?

OxiClean™ is free of chlorine and preservatives, so it's safe on colors and gentle on your clothing – without sacrificing performance or leaving chemical residues. Many detergents break down the fibers and dyes in laundry as they clean, causing severe fading overtime.

Does OxiClean make colors bleed?

Oxygen-based bleach is another valuable option for obstinate stains. OxiClean stands out among these, being safe for both whites and colored items. Follow the bleach mixing instructions and let the garments soak before setting the washing machine to a normal cycle.

Can you use OxiClean on colored clothes on Reddit?

Yes, so long as it's not wool or silk fabric.

Can you mix OxiClean with regular detergent?

Yes, you can add detergent to the load as well as oxyclean and it will boost the performance of your favorite kind. It's hilarious that the manufacturer responded first, but everyone seems to know better.

Can you leave clothes in OxiClean too long?

Let stand for 5 minutes or up to a week, depending on the severity of the stain. For set-in stains, allow the spray to penetrate overnight or up to a week. For fabrics prone to color change, do not let stand longer than 5 minutes. Do not treat the garment while wearing it.

Does OxiClean need to be rinsed?

It is always best to thoroughly rinse areas with clean water where OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover came in contact with plants, to wash away any residual product.

Does vinegar restore color in clothes?

One more method for how to brighten colored clothes is to use vinegar to help remove detergent residue that causes fading. If you have a top-load washer, just put ½ cup of vinegar in the drum before adding your clothes. For front-load washers, you can put the vinegar in your softener dispenser space.

What to do if color bleeds in the washer?

What to Do When Color Bleeds in the Wash
  1. Identify the Item that caused the color bleed and remove it from the group.
  2. Separate all of the garments affected by the color bleed.
  3. Re-wash the affected garments with detergent and oxygen bleach on a normal cycle (or the cycle the label calls for)

Will OxiClean remove pink from white clothes?

Whites Turned Pink

To fix this, soak the discolored stuff in a sink filled with water and bleach (10 parts water to 1 part bleach) or OxiClean (read the label for the amount). Check every 15 minutes or so and remove when white; 90 minutes should be more than enough. Then machine wash.

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