Comments on: How can I lighten or fade blue jeans without using bleach?

Question: How can I lighten or fade blue jeans without using bleach?

macadamia — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 22:32:32 -0800

How can I lighten or fade blue jeans without using bleach? I own three pairs of similarly colored blue jeans from Aéropostale and I'd like to add variety to my wardrobe by lightening a couple pairs. I'm trying to avoid bleach because it's corrosive and I'm afraid it'll turn the jeans orange. I've tried using Rit Color Remover and Rit Whitener & Brightener but neither had an effect. Apparently, a product called Rit Fast Fade used to exist but is no longer with us. What should I do?

By: catburger

catburger — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 22:55:35 -0800

Wash in hot water.

Put them in the dryer.

Leave them out in the sun.

Rub them with sandpaper.

By: laskagirl

laskagirl — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 01:06:43 -0800

I've lightened jeans with bleach before, and they came out very well. I'd be afraid I'd do more damage with the sandpaper.

You might try putting them in the washer and adding just a little bleach in the first cycle. Then wash again with more bleach until you reach the desired shade.

By: laskagirl

laskagirl — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 01:07:28 -0800

The jacket I washed with bleach came out sort of a light blue. Hey, it was the 80s and that was in. ;o)

By: goldism

goldism — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 04:07:59 -0800

sandpaper? that seems like it would kill the fabric.

read this and this

By: brautigan

brautigan — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 05:25:18 -0800

You probably need an enzyme wash like Denilite by Novozymes.

Can't seem to find a domestic version though.

By: matteo

matteo — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 05:29:23 -0800

don't sandpaper it

By: fake

fake — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 05:29:25 -0800

Anything that will change the color of your pants is corrosive. Orange juice is corrosive.

I suggest you take a drop of diluted bleach and try it on the inside hem of the left leg of one pair. That way, you will know conclusively what bleach will do, without visible damage.

If you like the results, wash them with dilute bleach, possibly several times, until you get the result you want.

Otherwise, sunshine is your best option.

By: amtho

amtho — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 05:49:54 -0800

Hydrogen peroxide turns things white - I did a google search to see whether people are using it to whiten fabric, and apparently it's the active ingredient in "oxygen bleaches". I guess you could try just washing your jeans in it (you'd need a greater concentration than with regular bleach).

Here's a link I found.

By: jack_mo

jack_mo — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 06:32:07 -0800

It might be worth asking for tips on the Superfuture denim forum.

By: Ery

Ery — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 12:49:39 -0800

To stop chlorine bleach from eating your jeans away, once you've obtained the desired color, rinse them in water and then use Anti-chlor (sodium metabisulfite) to neutralize the hypochlorite in the bleach. You can order this from a dye supplier, or find it (or potassium bisulfite) at a photography or winemaker supply store.