Stain Buster — Hair Dye

Fabric

If bleach is safe for the fabric, mix a solution of 1/4 cup of bleach per gallon of cool water and soak for 30 minutes. Rinse, and then wash as usual.

OR

If chlorine bleach isn't safe for the fabric, mix one cup of ammonia (caution: never mix bleach and ammonia – the resulting fumes are hazardous) with one gallon of cool water. Hold the fabric taut over a jar or bucket and pour the ammonia mixture directly onto the stain, allowing it to drain through the fabric. Rinse, and then wash as usual.

Upholstery

Mix one tablespoon of washing up liquid and one tablespoon of white vinegar with two cups of cool water. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with the detergent/vinegar solution. Leave it on the stain for at least 30 minutes, blotting every five minutes with a clean white cloth and more solution. Sponge with cold water and blot until the liquid is absorbed. Sponge the stain with surgical spirit and blot to remove the stain. Sponge with cold water. If the stain remains, mix one teaspoon of washing up liquid and one tablespoon of ammonia with two cups of cool water. Sponge the stain with this solution. Leave it on the stain for at least 30 minutes, blotting every five minutes with a clean white cloth and more solution. Sponge with cold water and blot dry.

Carpet

Mix one tablespoon washing up liquid and one tablespoon of white vinegar with two cups of warm water. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with the detergent/vinegar solution, blotting frequently with a dry cloth until the stain disappears. Sponge with cold water and blot until the liquid is absorbed. Sponge the stain with surgical spirit. Blot to remove the stain. Sponge with cold water.

If the stain remains, mix one teaspoon of washing up liquid and one tablespoon of ammonia with two cups of warm water. Sponge the stain with this solution. Leave it on the stain for at least 30 minutes, blotting every five minutes with a clean white cloth and more solution. Sponge with cold water and blot dry.

Worth a try on Fabric

If you can't wash off the hair-dye stain immediately, grab some hairspray and saturate the fabric. The alcohol in the hairspray will help loosen the stain. As soon as you can, soak and then wash the stain.

Worth a try on carpet or upholstery

If the hair-dye stain doesn't completely disappear on carpet or upholstery, use an eye dropper to apply hydrogen peroxide. (Test the hydrogen peroxide in a hidden spot for safety first.) Let it dry for 24 hours, and then repeat if necessary. If this treatment removes the original color of the carpet or upholstery along with the stain, try using a felt-tip fabric marking pen (available in craft stores) as close as possible to the original colour to cover the stained area. Check the ink colour on a clean white cloth before applying it to your carpet or upholstery.