Can You Bleach Acrylic Yarn? How To Bleach Acrylic Fabric
Not everyone is happy with the colors on some fabrics. Their go-to method to get rid of that color is to use chlorine bleach. Chlorine bleach is not for every fabric and can cause some damage if you are not careful. But there is more than one way to bleach a colored fabric you do not like.
Can you bleach acrylic yarn? It is possible to bleach acrylic fabric and there are many different ways to bleach acrylic without using chlorine bleach. The chlorine option usually ends up ruining synthetic materials including acrylic. You can try using the sun method and let its rays lighten the color of your acrylic fabric.
To learn if you can bleach acrylic fabric or not, just continue to read our article. It has the information you should know about. Also, bleaching is not the safest way to get material to a lighter color. Buying new clothes in that lighter shade is.
Bleaching Acrylic 101
Will Bleach Damage Acrylic?
It is possible and that is the best answer that can be given. If you do not dilute the chlorine bleach enough, you run the risk of permanently damaging your acrylic fabric. Even diluting chlorine bleach can be risky when it comes to synthetic fibers.
If you use an alternative to chlorine bleach then the bleaching process should be on safer ground. Using the sun is a safer method to lighten acrylic materials. The only problem is that this method may take too long to achieve the type of fading you want.
When you use the chlorine bleach method, make sure not to soak the item you want lighter in the bleach for more than 5 minutes at a time. Check the color every 5 minutes or so until you see the shade you want.
Keep in mind that wet fabrics may appear darker than they will when they are dry.
Can You Bleach Acrylic Yarn?
Most people will say no to this option mainly because chlorine bleach does damage synthetic fibers. Doesn’t matter the synthetics used, chlorine bleach hates them all. Undiluted chlorine bleach should never be used on your clothing items no matter what the fiber is made from. The color will go quickly.
Also, chlorine bleach will weaken the fibers and the shirt or dress will not be as strong as it once was. The problem with trying to bleach acrylic is that the color is often mixed in before it is spun into yarn. That part of the process makes sure the acrylic fabric is colorfast and bleach has nothing to remove.
If you try to use stronger bleach solutions you may not remove any of the colors but you will reshape the fibers and have your material looking like something the cat dragged in.
Bleaching Acrylic Yarn
You can try using the different color removers that different dye brands have created to make dyeing fabric easier. Instead of risking damaging your material through the use of bleach, these color removers can help protect your fabric while removing any unwanted shades of color.
However, acrylic is a little bit different and even color removers may not work. The reason for this is that any color dye added to acrylic polymers is done long before the fibers are spun into a fabric.
What that means is that acrylic fabric has no natural white or light color to go back to. It is all the same color on every thread, fiber, diameter, and so on. Bleach and color removers may lighten the shade a bit but do not expect to see the color change to white or disappear.
When you want to lighten acrylic materials, it is best to buy the fabric in the color you want. Do not buy a darker color thinking you can lighten it up as one, you may not be able to do it and two, there is no way to stop the bleaching process at the exact hue you want on the fabric.
How to Bleach Acrylic Fabric
We have come across two methods that may lighten the color of acrylic material. The first is the sun method and the process is fairly simple to do. Step one, wait for a sunny day.
Step two, lay out your fabric where the sun will shine the most and leave it out there till the sunsets. Step three, repeat each day the sun is out until you get the shade you want. The drawback to this system is that it may take a few weeks to get the color shade you desire.
The second method is the chlorine bleach option. Step one, add 1/4 cup of bleach to every gallon of water you put in your sink or pail. Step two, mix the two ingredients well so the bleach is thoroughly diluted.
Step three, place your acrylic material or clothing item inside the pail and let it soak for 5 minutes. Pull the item out and check the color shade. if it is where you want it to be and there is no damage, proceed to the next step.
If the color is not the right shade then repeat this step checking every 5 minutes to see if the process reached the desired level of color. Once it has moved on to the next step. Step four, rinse the item until all the bleach is gone.
Step five, after removing all the bleach launder as normal. The longer you soak the acrylic item in the bleach solution the more risk you take. Bleach is not synthetic fiber friendly and you can ruin your item by soaking it for too long.
You may find a safer method of bleaching and give it a shot by testing it on a scrap piece of acrylic fabric before risking your good acrylic clothing to the process.
Does Bleach Get Acrylic Paint Out of Clothes?
It may but if you use undiluted bleach you run the risk of damaging the fabric underneath the acrylic paint. A diluted bleach mixture may not be strong enough to remove the acrylic paint as once acrylic dries, it is very difficult to remove from any fabric.
Even the expert on the Clorox website did not recommend using their brand’s or any other brand of bleach to remove acrylic paint so the best and safest thing you can do is avoid using bleach when you or your children get acrylic paint on your clothing.
There are some things you need to know about acrylic paint before you try to remove it. First, this type of paint is very quick drying. You have to get to it immediately if you want to use water-based cleaning solutions.
Second, using pre-treatment laundry products to clean the stain should not be allowed to dry on your clothing. Third, once acrylic dries on fabric it is usually permanent. Water-based cleaners cannot remove it.
If you use solvents to get rid of the paint, you shouldn’t wash those clothing items in your washer nor dry them in your dryer. The reason for this is that those solvents can spontaneously combust and cause damage to your appliances.
When you are painting with acrylic paint make sure to wear old clothes that you don't mind getting stained. If you don’t and a stain gets on them you will be put into a difficult position.
When you put your brushes down to clean the stain right away, the paintbrushes will start to dry on you and you may end up ruining those brushes if your cleaning takes too long. Avoid this by wearing those clothing items you do not care about.
How to Remove Acrylic Paint From Fabrics
There are different methods to get that stain out before the paint dries. This is going to be a bit long so sit back and relax as you read.
1. Cleaning preparation
Get to your clothes quickly and you need to be fast. When you react fast, scrape any drying paint off first, then use a paper towel to dab up the wet paint before it starts to harden.
Do not rub the paint or area as this method will just push the paint deeper into the fabric and make it very, very difficult to remove. Now that you have taken this step and got most of the paint off, the following methods can be used independently and if they work, then you are good to go.
2. Rubbing alcohol method
Soak the stained area thoroughly and by thoroughly we mean you saturate the area with the rubbing alcohol. Next, scratch at the paint using your fingernail or some other object like a coin, wooden spoon, and so on.
Get as much paint off first before putting the item in your washer. use the laundry method that fits the fabric. Then dry as usual. If the stain is not gone, repeat but no promises. The paint may have dried too quickly and it is stuck there.
3. Ammonia and Vinegar method
Soak the stained area in cold water first. You only need a minute here. Now mix 1 cup of ammonia and 1 cup of white vinegar with a little salt. Remove the excess water from your clothing then use a lint-free cloth and dip it into the mix and rub the stain.
When rubbing you can scrub hard and dip the cloth into the mix often. Once you are done, rinse with water and check to see if the stain is gone. Repeat as necessary until the stain is gone. If the stain is gone, wash as normal.
4. Dish detergent method
Turn your clothing item inside out and place the stained part under running water. This will flush out any loose wet acrylic paint and you should get as much as possible out before moving to the next step.
Now mix 1 part detergent with 1 part warm water and like the previous method use a lint-free cloth and dab the stained area. You can scrape the area with your fingernail, etc., during this step.
When you think the stain is gone, rinse with water, no hotter than warm, and check. Then wash as normal and check to see if the stain is gone.
5. Window cleaner or hairspray method
The first step here is to blot the stain before it dries with a clean cloth or paper towel. Next, spray the window cleaner or hairspray onto a clean cloth or sponge {do a test first on the fabric to make sure this method is safe for those fibers.
After the test, scrub the stained area with the cloth with the cleaner or hair spray. Don’t rub too hard or you may spread the stain. Use a knife or fingernail etc., to remove as much paint as possible.
When you are done, wash immediately. This method is a potent cleaning method and if the chemicals are left to dry you can damage your clothing fibers.
You can repeat these methods if the stain doesn’t come out except for the last one. The chemicals in those cleaners or sprays may be too harsh to do more than once. Then make sure to wash according to the manufacturer’s cleaning label to make sure you do not harm your clothing while you clean it.
Does Bleach Damage Acrylic Baths?
This is going to be up to your personal preferences as the discussion on this topic is divided. Some say if you dilute the chlorine bleach enough, you should be fine and no damage to your tub will occur.
Others say that you should avoid chlorine bleach and use an oxygen bleach option instead. The manufacturers of acrylic tubs say only warm soapy water is needed to clean their tubs. They also say that if you use bleach or other abrasive cleansers you will void your warranty that came with the tub.
But one thing everyone agrees on is the type of cleaning tool you should use. Steel wool, wire brushes, sponges with very rough surfaces, and similar items are not to be used. You can scratch the tub if you do.
Before you clean though, check to see if your warranty is still valid and what happens if you use the wrong cleaning solution.
Can Bleach Get Acrylic Nails Off?
It would be best not to use bleach in this situation. The experts we researched did not mention bleach as a viable option. You may damage your real nails and fingers if you try this method. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule but err on the side of caution.
Acetone is the best solution to use if you are going to remove your own acrylic nails. There are different methods you can use and the one that may work the best is as follows:
Step one - file the nails down gently and carefully using a sanding tool for nails.
Step two - soak some cotton swabs in acetone and wrap those swabs around your fingers. Once done, cover in tinfoil.
Step three - wait for 10 to 15 minutes. This gives the acetone time to do its work then remove the tinfoil and swabs. Use a cuticle pusher to remove excess acrylic
Step four - rinse your fingers and finish this process with some cuticle oil
Can You Bleach Acrylic Teeth?
You can but it will not be the smartest thing you have ever done. In fact, it may even be illegal as Clorox states that it is illegal to use their bleach in any manner contrary to its labeling.
With that said, dentists are taught to use bleach in some circumstances but they are professionals with years of training. Using bleach can damage mouth tissue and if one rinses quickly, they may avoid that problem.
On the other hand, if a person uses other chemicals in their mouth there is a chance those chemicals may react with the bleach and create a poisonous gas. If this doesn’t convince you to not use bleach to clean your teeth, then only do it periodically and use a 1 part bleach to 20 parts water solution.
Also, do not swallow the bleach as you may kill yourself or damage your internal organs beyond repair. It is best to use some other whitening method like baking soda, vinegar & coconut oil, or even a teeth whitening kit.
Some Final Words
Bleaching acrylic fabric is a gamble you may not want to take. Clothing can get expensive and synthetic fibers are not the easiest to lighten the color. Then acrylic paint is very difficult to clean and bleach should not be your first option.
You can ruin the fabric if you use bleach to get acrylic paint off. Sometimes the cure is worse than the problem.
