How to Bleach Just the Arms of a Shirt

Bleaching just the arms of a shirt is tricky because bleach is a thin solution that can run everywhere on the clothes. However, you can lighten select areas of clothing by applying the bleach carefully and neutralizing it as soon as you are done. By bleaching just the sleeves, you can change the look of your shirt or remove stains that only happened on the arms.

Bowl
Bleach neutralizer
Bucket
Old towel
Table
Bristle paintbrush

Instructions

- 1
  Mix a solution of 1 part bleach to 2 parts water in a bowl.
- 2
  Dissolve 1 tsp. of bleach neutralizer in 2 1/2 gallons of hot water. Use a large bucket for this solution.
- 3
  Lay an old towel across a table, which will absorb the bleach and prevent it from running under the fabric into the rest of the shirt.
- 4
  Set the shirt on a flat surface, and spread it out flat.
- 5
  Dip a paintbrush in the solution, and carefully paint just the sleeves of the fabric with the bleach. Do not paint too close to the armpit seam because the shirt will wick some of the solution up toward it. Watch how the solution moves up to the seam, and then dab extra bleach around the edge to thoroughly cover it. The bleach must cover both the top and bottom layers of the sleeves.
- 6
  Leave the solution on the fabric for two to 10 minutes. Watch the sleeves change color. The longer the solution is on, the lighter the shirt will become.
- 7
  Dunk the entire shirt in the bleach neutralizer solution for five minutes, stirring it occasionally. This neutralizes the bleach and stops it from changing the color. Rinse well in warm water, and wash as usual.

How to Get Rid of the Smell of Cleaning Solvent Off Your Clothes

How to Keep Dye in Jeans From Running

Laundry