As with most things that are fun, sometimes the fun can get a little out of hand. One popular activity that’s coming up in time for spring is dying hard-boiled eggs for Easter. Sure, it’s lots of fun, but, especially with little ones, this can be a potentially very messy activity. Between open containers of dye/food coloring and the little spoons that are typically used to move eggs from one bowl to another, spills and stains are bound to happen. 

This brings us to the question, is it possible to get Easter egg dye out of clothes? 

The answer, in general, is yes. Here’s how: 
 

  1. If we’re talking about a LOT of dye, remove as much as you can by blotting the clothing. Otherwise, you can skip to the next step. 
  1. Fill the kitchen sink with hot water – as hot as you can.  
  1. Add 1 cup of distilled vinegar in the sink and stir.  
  1. Soak the stained clothing for one hour or until the water temperature starts to cool. 
  1. Wring the item(s) out and put the garments into the washing machine on warm with your regular detergent. Add ½ cup of distilled vinegar during the wash cycle when the basin is filling up.  
  1. When the wash cycle is done, check the item(s) for your stain(s). It should have disappeared, but if not, repeat the process from step two. 
  1. When the stain is gone, then you can dry it. Do not dry before you’re satisfied with the stain removal though, because the heat from the dryer will set the stain permanently.  

Of course, the best way to get dye out of clothes is to prevent stains in the first place. Time to break out the free t-shirts you’ve been saving for years and stock up on rubber gloves and plastic party tablecloths for the surfaces and floors. You can thank us later.