Can You Bleach Tencel Lyocell? Getting Stains Out of Tencel
It's nice on laundry day not to have difficult clothes to clean and dry. It makes housework more enjoyable and goes by faster. When you get those easy to care for products, you should hang onto them as the hard to launder fabrics makes cleaning something you want to farm out to the dry cleaners.
Can you bleach Tencel Lyocell? Tencel lyocell is a great fabric. One that is easy to care for and it is possible to use bleach on to get those tough stains out. The only drawback is that bleach may harm the colors. They shouldn’t harm the fibers though so be careful and follow the laundry labels.
To find out more about getting stains out of Tencel Lyocell just continue to read our article. It covers the topic so you know what to do on laundry day. When you are done, you should see your laundry time go a little bit smoother.
Bleaching Tencel Lyocell 101
Can You Bleach Tencel?
Yes, you can bleach Tencel and you can use chlorine and oxygen bleaches to get those stains out. The way you use these bleach methods should be done with care as not all Tencel fashions are machine washable or open to bleach.
Make sure to read the cleaning label attached to the fabric to know how much bleach to add and which fabrics to add that chemical to. It is always better to use an oxygen bleach when in doubt.
Oxygen bleach is not as powerful as chlorine bleach and may take longer to remove the stains but it does not have that fabric destroying chlorine chemical additive. You can try other bleaching materials as well.
There will be some Tencel lyocell materials that will say dry clean only and it is best to follow that instruction. You do not want to risk losing a nice outfit because you did not want to make a trip to the dry cleaners.
Can You Bleach Tencel Sheets?
There are several ways to wash Tencel sheets and other fabrics. The best thing to do is to read the cleaning label as not all Tencel fabrics are made the same. For example, some cleaning labels will say dry clean only, hand wash only or give you permission to use your washing machine.
For the delicate nature of those Tencel sheets, you should avoid using a harsh bleach. When washing this type of fabric, you should use a gentle or delicate cycle and avoid high heat in the dryer.
Soaking some Tencel sheets will end up ruining them so always follow the care labels attached to the product. This is something we can’t say enough because people tend to ignore those instructions and do their laundry their way.
One thing you should be aware of is that you should not use stain remover on spot stains. That product tends to damage the fibers when you rub it into the material. When you are done store the items outside of plastic containers as this fabric is prone to mold and mildew growth
How To Bleach Lyocell
First off, you can try specific stain removers that are made for the delicate Tencel fibers. While it is a durable and easy to launder fabric, it still has its weaknesses which means being gentle is essential.
When it comes time to bleach this material, turn it inside out and place it in a mesh laundry bag. This will protect the clothing from the agitation, then add a couple of capfuls of all-purpose bleach to the water.
For the washer settings, make sure the water is cold, the cycle is on gentle and the spin is on low. This will further protect your clothing from harm. You do not want to use a lot of bleach as that chemical may ruin the color and strip the dye from the fabric.
If you do not want to use chlorine bleach, and that is a good attitude to have, you can use oxygen-based bleaches to handle the tough stains. Even if you diluted chlorine bleach, it still has the tendency to weaken the fibers and cause a little damage.
Just don’t be careless when using any form of bleach or stain remover.
How do You Get Stains Out Of Tencel?
There are some stain removers that may work on Tencel fabrics. You have to be careful in selecting these spot removers as they are not all safe for the lyocell material. Then you have to be careful of soaking the material in water.
It is possible to harm the fabric when it is soaked for a long period of time. Make sure to check the care label. If you are not up on all the symbols used on those little tags, a little research will give you the information you need.
Keep the agitation of the water to a very gentle motion as damage can be done by this action as well as a lot of friction. Even when using the spot stain removers. Handwashing remains the best way to remove stains as long as you are using a gentle soap when you use this method.
How To Get Grease Stains Out of Tencel
One of the first methods you can try is using your normal dish soap. If it comes with grease-fighting properties then there is nothing stopping you from using this soap to remove grease from your Tencel clothing.
All you need to do is put a little of this soap on the stain and wash the item like normal. Another method would be to use baking soda if the grease stain happened a few minutes before. Sprinkle the baking soda on the grease and wait for about 5 to 10 minutes before brushing both off the clothing item.
The baking soda’s color will tell you when it is time to brush as it will turn brown when it is done. One thing is for sure, avoid using chlorine bleach on the stain. You won’t get great results.
Two replacements for baking soda are salt and baby powder. The technique is the same. For all three powder options, you can use the dishwashing trick after you are done and make sure the stain is gone.
How To Get Blood Stains Out of Tencel Lyocell
You can wash the clothing item in cool water with a little chlorine or oxygen bleach, the latter being the preferred chemical, and see if that doe the trick. But make sure to blot up as much blood as possible first if it is not already dried.
Another step to avoid will be to use heat. The hot water option as well as the dryer are out of the question as heat will set the stain not remove it. In addition to those exclusions do not use your iron either.
After blotting up blood as possible, rinse the stain liberally under cold water. You will need to gently rub as you rinse using running water from a tap. Wash with oxygen or enzyme bleach as those work on protein-based stains like blood the best.
If you can’t wash the item right away soak it in cold water without any soap added to the mix. The cold water prevents the stain from setting.
How To Get Coffee Stains Out of Tencel Lyocell
Like blood and grease, you should blot the stained area if the spill was recent and has not dried. Do not rub as that will only spread the stain deeper and further into the material.
Next, rinse the stain in cold water as heat is not good for the fabric nor the stain removal process. After you have finished the rinsing place some liquid laundry soap onto the stain and rub lightly with your fingers.
Rinse again to see how much of the stain was removed. Then wash normally using a stain remover or a little diluted bleach or oxygen bleach. If the stain is gone hang to dry. If not just repeat the process again.
You can try using diluted vinegar as well but do a test first before attempting any of these cleaning methods. You need to make sure they will work without damaging your clothing and the test is the only way to know for sure.
Some Final Words
Yes, you can bleach Tencel lyocell materials but chlorine bleach is not always the best option to use. It is a strong chemical and may weaken the fibers of your nice clothing items. Approach stain removal with care making sure to use products designed to work with this fabric.
Then read the care label to make sure you are making the right decisions. The care labels should guide you in how to handle stains and remember to avoid using heat as that high temperature will set the stain and ruin the garment.
