Bleach spots
Also: bleach stains · discoloration spots · chemical spots
Bleach spots are lightened or discolored patches where chlorine, cleaning products, or acne medication stripped the dye, leaving pale orange or white marks. Unlike fading, they are sharp-edged and localized, cannot be washed back in, and count against cosmetic appearance as permanent, irreversible damage on the grade.
How to detect it
- Look for pale spots with crisp, defined edges rather than soft gradients
- Check collars, cuffs, and towel-contact areas near where products are used
- Note an orange or brassy cast on black fabric, a classic bleach tell
Grade impact
Bleach spots are graded under Cosmetic Appearance (20%) and read as permanent. A pinhead spot in a hidden spot is minor and stays near Good (6); obvious bleach marks on a visible panel pull the item to Fair (5) or Poor (3–4), since the color can't be restored.
Fixability
Not removable, only disguised. Fabric markers or a careful re-dye can mask small spots but rarely match perfectly. Most bleach damage is disclosed as permanent rather than treated.
How to disclose it
State it clearly ('small bleach spot on the left cuff, color loss is permanent'). Because bleach marks look like they might wash out, spelling out that they're permanent avoids a disappointed buyer.
Bleach spots — frequently asked
- How can I tell a bleach spot from sun fading?
- Bleach spots are sharp-edged and localized, often with an orange or brassy cast where dye was stripped by a chemical. Sun fading is soft and gradual, spread across sun-exposed areas like shoulders. Bleach damage is permanent; both are graded under Cosmetic Appearance.
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