How to strip colour out of pre-dyed fabric?

cashferret

I have a pair of cotton cord trousers (presumably polyester thread for the seams) in an ugly shade of pale blue. I'd like to strip the colour out. It's that or the charity shop - I've got nothing to lose if I wreck them.

Years ago I successfully used a Dylon product to remove dye from a garment but loads of reviews on Amazon say that Dylon's pre-dye product for stripping dye is pretty much useless.

How can I get the colour out of these cords? I've read a bit about bleach on the 'net but I'm not sure how effective it would be in removing industrial dye (as opposed to stains or accidentally transferred dye) or how to use it safely without dying (no pun intended) of chlorine fumes.

Can anyone help?

pigpen

bucket of bleach and left overnight outside.. empty bucket down the drain rinse trousers in washing machine and dye.. cord fades massively when it gets the slightest bit of bleach on.

What colour are you wanting to dye them? most colours would overdye a blue

cashferret

Thanks, pigpen.

I'd like them to end up off-white and am not expecting to re-dye them (can't believe that anything will do a perfect job!). If they end up blinding white, though, that would be OK.

How far do you think the bleach will get in stripping the colour out? Does it do it evenly?

That's a good tip to leave them outdoors overnight.

pigpen

They wont be any kind of white ever I don't think, if they got close polyester stitching would still be coloured... I'd go with dyeing them dark blue black or grey..


if you do bleach overnight outside make sure a lid is on.. so critters aren't drinking it! .. foxes, cats etc

cashferret

I'll see how they turn out - I'm intending them for just slobbing around the house, really - they're just such a dreary shade at the mo.

Good tip about a lid! I hadn't thought of that.