How To Wash Striped Clothing

Crisp, nautical stripes are a classic wardrobe staple, and the fear of color bleeding during the wash cycle is also a classic fear. Earn your stripes with our definitive, foolproof washing guide.

Your Must-Have Stripe Solutions: Wash Tub Basin, Stain Solution, Wash & Stain Bar, Signature Detergent, Signature Detergent Refill, Crease Release, Fabric Fresh Classic

Find an inconspicuous area on your striped clothing, such as a seam or hem, and dip it in warm water. If you are not able to submerge a part of the item in water, you can do a “spot test.” To spot test, wet a clean, Lint-Free Cleaning Cloth and blot the item. If dye releases into the water or onto the cloth, you’ll know that, if washed, there would be bleeding onto the other areas of the fabric. If there is significant dye release, you may want to take it to the dry cleaner to prevent color bleeding. If there is minimal dye release and it's the first time you are washing an item, you should wash the item alone.

For food stains on your white striped clothes, pre-treat with our Stain Solution and one capful of our All-Purpose Bleach Alternative. Mix the solution to create a paste. Use our Stain Brush or your finger to scrub the paste. For oil-based stains, use the Wash & Stain Bar.

If this your first time washing a striped garment, we recommend handwashing. Fill a Wash Tub Basin or sink with cool water to prevent the color bleeding. Add a squirt of our Signature Detergent or Signature Detergent Refill for cotton items and agitate the water to dissolve the detergent. You can also add a capful of All-Purpose Bleach Alternative to soak water to brighten and remove stains. Soak for up to 30 minutes before rinsing.

Sort your stripes depending on the primary color in the garment—for example, for a navy and white striped shirt with thicker navy stripes, wash with a load of colors. If the colors are even, then take your pick of piles. Machine wash on cool with an extra rinse spin cycle, if possible. If it’s your first time washing an item, we suggest washing it by itself.

Hang or machine dry according to fabric type, then mist with Crease Release to smooth out wrinkles. In between washing and wearing, remove odors and revive striped clothing with Fabric Fresh Classic.

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