Used bleach and hot water in the wash cycle......couldn't believe my eyes when I opened the washing machine.....instead of turning white....which is usually what bleach does.....they turned ORANGE? Does anyone know why this would happen? Does mold and bleach react that way normally? And how do I get them white again?? Anyone have any suggestions??
2007-11-16 10:04:31 · 13 answers · asked by martha s 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Cleaning & Laundry
were they white to start with ?
if they were the bleach probably reacted to the mold..if they werent..then theres your answer..bleach doesnt usually turn out well when other colours are involved..unless you use colour-safe bleach.
If they were white..you can try soaking them overnight in bleach or napisan.
you can also try soaking in vinegar or baking soda.
you can leave it for 4 hours soaking..but preferly overnight..the longer the better.
if they were not white, i dont know if you will be able to turn them back to the way they were.
2007-11-16 21:02:11 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The bleach had a chemical reaction with the mold and coloring in the fabric of the cushions. If they have already turned orange then washing them again in bleach will not turn them white. Anytime you use bleach you should always use cold water, the hot water changes how the bleach interacts with chemicals whether lab made or naturally made.
2007-11-16 18:08:55 · answer #2 · answered by steracrudy 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The questioner failed to state what color the cushions were before the washing. If they were already a color, then the bleach reacted with some of the dyes and not others, leaving just the orange ones (or red and yellow) behind.
2007-11-16 18:11:42 · answer #3 · answered by JJ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be a chemical reaction to the fabric or the chemicals in your water reacted with the bleach and the mold. All kinds of combinations occur when you use chlorine bleach.
2007-11-16 18:08:45 · answer #4 · answered by Steven D 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You might try oxy--but I think the damage is done. Probably the fabric content. Rit makes a product that is suppose to remove all color from fabrics before dying them. You could try it first. Or maybe just dye them a new color and then they would be like new again! If you sew--make some new covers for them. Or better yet--a great excuse to buy some new ones! Good luck!
2007-11-16 18:11:09 · answer #5 · answered by justakid 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
each color of the visible spectrum has a certain number of chemical bonds that give them their respective colors...
ie [these numbers are arbitrary]
having only six chemical bonds would be responsible for producing the blue color
having only three bonds would be responsible for orange etc...
when bleach interacts with colors, it destroys these chemical bonds that are responsible for the colors we see....
in the example mentioned above, the bleach has destroyed the 3 of blue's 6 chemical bonds and because only 3 chemical bonds remain we see the shift to orange...
hope this clears up some confusion...
wal mart and target should solid choices to replace patio cushions...also try lowe's...good prices...
2007-11-16 18:16:07 · answer #6 · answered by Who Am I? 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
may have to use slipcovers
the bleach may have reacted with the lining/filler
in the cushions
ooops
my 7 yr old son helped with the laundry
and washed my briefs with his new red shirt
yep - Pop is Pink!
2007-11-16 18:09:48 · answer #7 · answered by tom4bucs 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it may have been a chemical reaction that happens with heat, if the couch looks good with them, thats good, if not, put thick white fabric on, and remove before washing
2007-11-16 18:08:48 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The material was either a polyester or other poly-based fabric. Bleach yellows polyester.
2007-11-16 19:47:26 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bleach isn't meant for patio couch cushions...geesh, read the manual
2007-11-16 18:07:47 · answer #10 · answered by primalclaws1974 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋