How To Remove Blue Jean Dye From Upholstery

By  April Dowling

Things Needed

  • Clear hand soap

  • 1 tbsp. white vinegar

  • 2 mixing bowls

  • Spoon

  • White rags

  • Rubbing alcohol

  • 1 tbsp. clear ammonia

  • White towel

Tip

Avoid exposing upholstery to new blue jeans in the future.

Warning

Spot-test both solutions and the rubbing alcohol on the upholstery to check for discoloration.

...

New blue jean fabric contains fresh blue dyes that require several washing cycles to completely bleed out. Draping new, freshly washed blue jeans over sofas to dry leaves upholstery susceptible to blue dye stains, which are extremely distinct. Aside from the dye's unsightly appearance, these stains quickly bleed into upholstery fibers. The longer blue jean dye remains in upholstery fibers, the more embedded the blue stains become — and harder to extract. Swiftly remove blue jean dye from upholstery to impede permanent staining.

Step 1

Pour 1 tbsp. of clear hand soap — not dishwasher soap — 1 tbsp. of white vinegar and 2 cups of fresh, cool water into a mixing bowl. Stir the ingredients together with a spoon.

Step 2

Dampen a white rag with the prepared solution. Blot the blue jean dye with the fresh solution every five minutes for 30 minutes, lifting as much dye from the upholstery as possible. Use a clean rag for each blotting session.

Step 3

Moisten another rag with cool water. Dab the upholstery to rinse away the solution.

Step 4

Check the upholstery for remaining dye. If any blue discoloration lingers, dampen another rag lightly with rubbing alcohol. Blot the remaining blue stain with the rubbing alcohol, lifting as much dye as possible.

Step 5

Dampen another rag with cool water, and dab the upholstery to rinse out the alcohol.

Step 6

Inspect the upholstery again for remaining blue discoloration. If any blue jean dye persists, pour 1 tsp. of clear hand soap, 1 tbsp. of clear ammonia and 2 cups of fresh, cool water into another mixing bowl. Stir the ingredients together.

Step 7

Moisten another white rag in the new solution. Blot the remaining blue jean dye with the new solution every five minutes for 30 minutes, lifting as much dye from the upholstery as possible. Use a clean rag for each blotting session.

Step 8

Dampen another rag with cool water, and dab the upholstery to rinse out any lingering solution.

Step 9

Blot the damp upholstery fibers with a white towel.

References

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