Black is certainly stylish, but there are some colors that just don’t go with it. It’s also not the color of choice for many people on vacation or during warmer months at school. Fortunately, you can change its color by bleaching it into a lighter shade. This process isn’t too difficult, but there are a few things you need to do in order to get this done successfully.
Step 1:
First off, if your shirt has any embellishments such as frills or ruffles, they will be dyed along with the rest of the fabric so keep them away from the bleach solution. The best way to stop dye from bleeding is to use a laundry detergent that contains enzymes. Enzymes are organic compounds that speed up chemical reactions in the body, so they will help to keep your shirt from getting any unwanted dye on it. Once you have all of this ready, mix together water and bleach until you get a nice light color- about half as much bleach as needed for the solution should be enough.
Separate your shirt into two main pieces along the seams so that when bleaching, there won’t be too much trouble with large areas not coming into contact with the solution (especially important if you’re only looking to lighten one patch). Then, place them in separate trash bags before carefully applying them with rubber gloves. The bag will act like another barrier between the shirt and bleach, but if you’re using a very strong mixture of it then it may be necessary to place a cloth or something similar over your shirt as well. Leave one bag in for about 15 minutes before removing it and checking on the progress. If there’s still dye interfering with your efforts, replace the bag and leave it in for another 10-15 minutes. Continue this process until you’ve reached a color that you like.
Step 2:
After bleaching your clothes, wash them separately from other items especially those who have been dyed with other colors as they could stain too. If possible, use cold water instead of hotter water as its more gentle on fabrics. Make sure that shirts do not rub against each other as much as this can cause them to snag and tear.
Now that you’ve bleached your shirt, you should let it dry outside in the shade- sunlight can fade fabrics quickly. Once this is done, you’re ready to get back to enjoying your new wardrobe addition!
Step 3:
Now you know how to bleach a black shirt grey, go ahead and do it! Just follow the simple steps above and soon you’ll have successfully bleached your shirt into that perfect color. Be sure not to skip any of the steps involved in this process as they’re all important for making this work like it should. So grab that old black shirt and get ready to watch it turn into a new grey one!
Conclusion: The next time you want to make your shirt a different color, try this simple DIY bleach method. With three easy steps and the help of some white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide, you can easily turn any black shirt grey in no time!
