Did I ruin my new messenger bag?
March 24, 2010 1:22 PM Subscribe
My jeans ruined my new messenger bag. Is there anything I can do?
Last week, I bought a new messenger bag from the Gap to haul my laptop around in. Earlier today I noticed that my jeans had rubbed a nice sweep of dye against the backside of my new bag. NICE. Now it looks terrible.
Is there anything I can do to get the color out? The bag is kind of a light tan color and made of cotton.
Last week, I bought a new messenger bag from the Gap to haul my laptop around in. Earlier today I noticed that my jeans had rubbed a nice sweep of dye against the backside of my new bag. NICE. Now it looks terrible.
Is there anything I can do to get the color out? The bag is kind of a light tan color and made of cotton.
If the bag's all-cotton, I'd try putting it through the washer with a little detergent, and then letting it air dry.
posted by BlahLaLa at 1:27 PM on March 24, 2010
posted by BlahLaLa at 1:27 PM on March 24, 2010
I would take the bag back to GAP and get a refund. Do these jeans usually stain everything they touch?
posted by lakerk at 1:27 PM on March 24, 2010
posted by lakerk at 1:27 PM on March 24, 2010
I would take the bag back to GAP and get a refund. Do these jeans usually stain everything they touch?
Check for a warning on the jeans before doing this to save yourself a trip. Black H&M jeans come w/ a specific warning on the label/tag to not sit on white couches (and related activities) because the dye comes off before the first wash or so.
posted by griphus at 1:29 PM on March 24, 2010
Check for a warning on the jeans before doing this to save yourself a trip. Black H&M jeans come w/ a specific warning on the label/tag to not sit on white couches (and related activities) because the dye comes off before the first wash or so.
posted by griphus at 1:29 PM on March 24, 2010
Wait. The BAG is new and from the Gap and the jeans are not. Christ, I need pay attention before responding.
posted by griphus at 1:31 PM on March 24, 2010
posted by griphus at 1:31 PM on March 24, 2010
Best answer: Shout can work wonders on this sort of thing.
posted by koeselitz at 1:31 PM on March 24, 2010
posted by koeselitz at 1:31 PM on March 24, 2010
I had a pair of jeans destroy a really nice pair of tan suede heels. There is nothing I could do to get it out, but I would still try to toss it in the laundry with one of those color catching sheets.
posted by whoaali at 1:34 PM on March 24, 2010
posted by whoaali at 1:34 PM on March 24, 2010
Best answer: If you do anything, do it with cold water, or the dye may set.
posted by sageleaf at 1:37 PM on March 24, 2010
posted by sageleaf at 1:37 PM on March 24, 2010
I know that we're talking about different fabrics and different types of stains, but these instructions from Put This On (via styleforum, apparently) have saved some of my stained shirts before.
posted by rossination at 1:49 PM on March 24, 2010
posted by rossination at 1:49 PM on March 24, 2010
If all else fails why not dye the messenger bag black?
posted by MsKim at 1:59 PM on March 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by MsKim at 1:59 PM on March 24, 2010 [1 favorite]
Magic Eraser is great for removing indigo stains from sneakers, could work here.
posted by domographer at 2:12 PM on March 24, 2010
posted by domographer at 2:12 PM on March 24, 2010
Take it to a local dry cleaner and talk to them about options. I would do that before laundering it myself.
posted by micawber at 2:25 PM on March 24, 2010
posted by micawber at 2:25 PM on March 24, 2010
Response by poster: FIXED. Thank you everyone for your suggestions.
For the record: Shout + a rag with cold water 5-6 minutes later seems to have worked well enough. It's not perfect, but the areas that looked really blue have faded enough that you can only tell in really bright light. I would have used my washer but the bag has a bunch of metal snaps and leather bits on it, so I wasn't too keen on that.
If all else fails why not dye the messenger bag black?
Can't get this idea out of my head now. "How do I go about dying my messenger bag" will probably be my next Ask post.
Once again, thanks everyone.
posted by threetoed at 2:50 PM on March 24, 2010
For the record: Shout + a rag with cold water 5-6 minutes later seems to have worked well enough. It's not perfect, but the areas that looked really blue have faded enough that you can only tell in really bright light. I would have used my washer but the bag has a bunch of metal snaps and leather bits on it, so I wasn't too keen on that.
If all else fails why not dye the messenger bag black?
Can't get this idea out of my head now. "How do I go about dying my messenger bag" will probably be my next Ask post.
Once again, thanks everyone.
posted by threetoed at 2:50 PM on March 24, 2010
Um the answer to "how do I go about dying my messenger bag" is mix up a tub of clothing dye and stick it in ... the same way you would tie-dye shirts except minus the rubberbands for tie-dye-y-ness.
posted by kthxbi at 3:09 PM on March 24, 2010
posted by kthxbi at 3:09 PM on March 24, 2010
You could try Rit color remover for powder dyes, which is probably what caused your stain.
But if you do try to dye your messenger, don't use Rit, use a better-quality dye. Rit dyes bleed too easily and leaves powder dye on things it comes in contact with.
posted by illenion at 4:15 PM on March 24, 2010
But if you do try to dye your messenger, don't use Rit, use a better-quality dye. Rit dyes bleed too easily and leaves powder dye on things it comes in contact with.
posted by illenion at 4:15 PM on March 24, 2010
For the future, I like Soak Wash for not-otherwise-washable things. It's for hand washing (15 minute soaking), no rinse. Specifically, the lack of a need to rinse in the first place means that you don't get residue left on things that would be difficult to really rinse (like a bag). And it's made of awesome.
posted by anaelith at 7:11 PM on March 24, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by anaelith at 7:11 PM on March 24, 2010 [2 favorites]
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Can you remove the strap and launder it? (Assuming it is not covered in zippers-n-shit)
...at the very least you might even out the dye over the bag?
posted by griphus at 1:27 PM on March 24, 2010