Color Contamination Incident 1 — Color Bleeding
Release Time:
2011-08-22 19:44
Source:
www.chinalaundry.cn
Expert Wu Jingmiao, Expert Committee of the China Commercial Federation Laundry and Dyeing Industry
The most frequent accident in the laundry and dyeing industry is color contamination.
Since the color fastness levels of textile fabrics and leather or fur materials vary, different clothing materials need to be treated differently according to their color fastness. However, due to possible improper handling in certain washing steps, clothes often lose color, causing color contamination to other clothes washed, soaked, or piled together. These color stains are all synthetic dyes, which can be removed by stripping or treated with oxidizing or reducing agents for bleaching.
Synthetic dye stains formed by color-fading clothes vary depending on the specific contamination situation, resulting in different types and severities of color stains. These synthetic dye stains can be divided into three specific types:
1. Color transfer;
2. Color overlay;
3. Color bleeding.
This issue first introduces the situation of color transfer contamination.
There are two situations where color transfer contamination occurs. One is color transfer between different clothes, and the other is color transfer between different colored fabrics or linings within the same garment.
Color transfer caused by different colored clothes is a relatively uniform color contamination, where the overall color of the contaminated clothes may change, sometimes appearing as if they were deliberately dyed a certain color. For example, washing a bright red garment causes color fading, turning a white shirt washed together into a pink shirt, a light yellow T-shirt into orange, and a light blue vest into gray. This happens because the color-fading clothes and the contaminated clothes are washed together. Therefore, the contaminated clothes are often more than one piece, and all other clothes washed with the color-fading clothes show the same contamination. Hence, it is called "shared bath color transfer," and the resulting color stain is called "color transfer."
The occurrence of "color transfer" is due to failure to separate colors during washing, which is very common in households and less frequent in laundries. "Color transfer" is also one of the easier color contamination stains to repair. Figure 4-1 shows a white cotton jacket washed together with a red garment, causing the jacket to be stained red and turn pink overall.
When a garment is made by piecing together different colored fabrics or uses different colored accessories, it means you are forced to wash different colored clothes together. We know that any washing method requires color separation. Therefore, such garments made from different colored materials should have very high color fastness. However, the color fastness standards for different clothing materials vary, so laundries must control the washing process through technology to ensure safety.

Figure 4-1 White cotton jacket turns pink after washing with color-fading red garment
Figure 4-2 is also a white fabric cotton jacket but uses a black lining. After washing, the black lining fades and causes the fabric to color transfer into light yellow. The belt of the jacket in the picture was not washed and retained its original white color.
Figure 4-3 is a jacket pieced together with red and white fabrics. After washing, the red fabric fades causing the white part to turn pink.
Figure 4-4 is a jacket made from four different colored fabrics. Due to overly harsh washing, color contamination occurred.
Figure 4-5 shows dark blue silk fabric severely overlaying color fading onto a light-colored lining, causing the garment label to discolor due to fading.

Figure 4-2 Black lining color transfer causes white fabric to turn light yellow

Figure 4-2 Black lining color transfer causes white fabric to turn light yellow

Figure 4-4 Jacket pieced from different colored fabrics with color transfer contamination

Figure 4-5 Dark blue fabric color fading contaminates light-colored lining and garment label
In addition, printed fabrics and yarn-dyed fabrics also have areas of different colors on the same fabric. Therefore, when washing conditions are too harsh, these fabrics may also experience color transfer contamination. This type of color contamination is mostly seen in silk fabrics.
Figure 4-6 is a women's outerwear made of black and white plaid coarse-spun pure wool fabric, which suffered large-area color bleeding contamination due to improper washing.
Figure 4-7 is a men's silk printed shirt, where after washing the red base color severely overlays color causing large-area color fading and transfer contamination. Figure 4-8 is also a silk printed fabric dress with color transfer and bleeding contamination.

Figure 4-6 Black and white plaid coarse-spun wool tweed color transfer contamination

Figure 4-7 Silk printed men's shirt color transfer contamination

Figure 4-8 Silk printed fabric dress color fading and transfer contamination
In summary, color transfer is quite common but not impossible to prevent.
Before washing, it is necessary to analyze the clothes to be washed and check the colorfastness of the fabric. If necessary, simple tests can be conducted to verify whether the clothes may fade. At the same time, maintain a cautious washing method and continuous rapid operation. Clothes that may fade must undergo acid washing to fix the color after washing; do not be careless or take chances. This way, color bleeding and contamination can be avoided.
[Warm Reminder] This publication still has some copies of the book "Clothing Washing Accidents - Case Analysis" written by Mr. Wu Jingmiao. Readers are welcome to call for inquiries and purchases (010-66094018 Ms. Liu).
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