Name: cody

Country: Canada

Message: So if I was to get rid of color with bleach, Anti-Chlor will not cause holes in the fabric? Because after I take the color out, I will be re-dyeing the fabric again with Pro MX dyes. Like once they're dyed AGAIN will the color not bleed and stay? and the fabric won't have holes from the bleach? THANKS.

Anti-chlor will not cause holes in the fabric, when used as directed. Hypochlorite bleach (which is ordinary household bleach, also known as chlorine bleach) very often will cause holes, sooner or later, if you don't neutralize it with Anti-chlor or another neutralizing chemical. Anti-chlor and other neutralizing chemicals can make a huge difference in how long your fabric will last after bleaching. See "How can I neutralize the damaging effects of chlorine bleach?".

The right order for bleaching and dyeing:

1. Prepare Anti-chlor bath in bucket, basin, tub, or washing machine
2. Apply bleach (using care since household bleach is quite toxic)
3. As soon as color has discharged to your satisfaction, immediately rinse the bleach out with plenty of water
4. Plunge bleached item into Anti-chlor bath and soak for fifteen minutes, stirring occasionally  (or as directed on the label)
5. Wash the item
6. Dye as usual

Use hypochlorite bleach only on 100% natural non-protein fibers, such as 100% cotton, 100% linen, or 100% hemp. Avoid its use if your fabric's fiber content includes any spandex, polyester, nylon, wool, or silk. You can use a reductive Color Remover instead on those fibers. See "What chemicals can be used to remove dye?".

Having been bleached will not make your fiber less suitable for dyeing, as long as you've neutralized the bleach and washed out the neutralizing chemical. Procion MX dyes will last extremely well if they are applied to dyeable fibers using a good recipe. Bleaching the fiber as white as possible beforehand makes the colors you apply show up more brightly.

Note that not all colors can be removed from commercially dyed fabric or yarn, because there's no way to know what dye was used. Some dyes bleach out much better than others. If bleach fails on a particular piece of fabric, it's possible that Color Remover might work, especially if heated to a simmer on the stovetop. (Do not heat bleach.) If you try both types, both the bleach and Color Remover, be sure to wash your fabric thoroughly in between the two steps.

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