Can clothing with "permanent press" (rubber) writing be bleached?

Question

Can clothing with "permanent press" (rubber) writing be bleached?

i have some white t-shirts with "rubbery" writing on them (so these are kind of like rubber letters glued the shirt, not drawn on it in paint) that i accidentaly put in the wash with some colorful clothing & one red sweatshirt bled onto the t-shirts, so now the t-shirts are a gross pinkish color -- i need to know if it is safe to bleach the t-shirts and whether bleaching them will screw up the lettering

thanks!

Answer 1

Everyone has done that! : )

1) it should not affect the silk screened imprint (I've worked these 11 years as a graphic artist at a promotional products company that prints silk screen, pad print/ hot stamp, and litho or off-set printing)

2) back in the 80's some of those inks used did crack and fade but those are not used very often anymore...however, it *could* be that kind. The kind to be wary of does not "feel" rubbery as you described. That should be a safe kind.

3) consider not bleaching but using Rit brand stain remover. It's for just such occasions and can be a tad hard to find but should be where ever other Rit dyes are sold. My Target stores carry it and try calling any hobby/ craft stores and asking if they have it if you cannot find it at a "normal" store like Target or a large "box" grocery chain.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Don't use bleach this will damage the lettering further and cause the colors to bleed more. Use White Vinegar instead use one cup of Vinegar to a small to medium load hot water or the warmest water temperature your shirts can handle and soak for about three hours, then allow the washer to go through it's cycle, then wash again with a little detergent added to tthe wash water and use Vinegar to the rinse cycle, fill your fabric softner/bleach dispenser with vinegar and allow it to go through it's entire cycle. Thats it your t-shirts should be white again, if not put them through the same method. Good Luck !

Answer 3

Hello,
You can visit...
http://www.fabric21.com/
http://www.fabric21.com/curtain-fabric.html
http://www.fabric21.com/chemical-fabric.html