The Best Fabric Color Remover: Rit vs Jacquard (Side-by-Side Test)

Have a shirt you want to reverse tie dye? Or maybe you just need to strip out some stubborn color before re-dyeing? A fabric color remover can save the day. But with different options out there, which one is actually the best fabric color remover?

I tested two of the most popular choices—Rit Color Remover and Jacquard Color Remover—to see how they stack up. Here’s everything you need to know before you buy.

Prefer to watch? Here’s the video tutorial.

Why Use a Fabric Color Remover?

Color removers are different from bleach. Instead of eating away at your fibers and leaving behind yellow stains, a good fabric color remover gently strips dye so you can start fresh.

Some common reasons to use one:

Reverse tie dye projects (without the damage of bleach)
Fixing mistakes on a tie dye piece
Stripping thrifted clothes to give them a new look
Prepping fabric for a new round of dye

👉 If you’re curious about other ways to reverse dye, check out my post on reverse tie dye with toilet bowl cleaner for another method that works surprisingly well. I also did a comparison of bleach vs Out White Brite if you’re curious about those methods!

Side by side comparison of Jacquard vs Rit color remover on geode tie dye shirts showing nearly identical results

The Products: Rit vs Jacquard Color Remover

Both Rit and Jacquard offer powdered dye removers that are designed to work in hot water. They’re widely available online, and you can often find Rit at big box stores, while Jacquard tends to be more common through craft suppliers.

Rit Color Remover – Affordable, easy to find in stores.
Jacquard Color Remover – Similar price point, sometimes easier to buy online.

On paper, their directions are nearly identical. So is there really a difference?

My Experiment: Testing the Best Fabric Color Remover

To find out, I dyed two shirts with bold colors and tied them in a geode fold. I like geode folds for testing because they show really crisp lines and contrast—perfect for spotting differences in how well the remover works.

Here’s what I did:

Boiled water on the stove.
Mixed in the remover – about a tablespoon for Jacquard, a little more for Rit.
Added the shirts (note: directions say to add dry fabric, but I accidentally added mine wet. It still worked just fine!).
Let them sit in the hot bath until I saw the color fading.

Red and blue tie dye shirts before using Rit and Jacquard fabric color removers — Screenshot

Final results of Rit vs Jacquard color remover test showing faded red and blue tie dye shirts — Screenshot

The Results: Which Color Remover Worked Best?

Reds and oranges lifted really well with both removers.
Blues and turquoise didn’t strip completely—this is totally normal with any color remover.
Blacks looked unchanged when wet, but once dried, you could see where the color lifted.

The final results? Practically identical. I couldn’t tell which shirt was which without checking my notes.

Verdict: Rit and Jacquard are equally effective. The “best fabric color remover” is simply the one that’s cheapest and easiest for you to buy.

Tips for Using Fabric Color Remover Successfully

Start with dry fabric – it helps the remover penetrate better.
Use boiling water – the hotter, the better.
Don’t expect miracles on black or dark navy – these are always harder to strip.
Wash immediately after – to prevent any leftover dye particles from resettling.

👉 Want to see my full experiment with White Brite vs bleach? That’s another popular method for removing color, and I’ve got a full post on that coming soon.

Fabric soaking in Rit and Jacquard color remover side by side test during boiling process

So, What’s the Best Fabric Color Remover?

If you’re standing in the aisle trying to decide between Rit or Jacquard, the truth is… it doesn’t matter. They perform the same. Pick whichever one you can get your hands on (or whichever is on sale!).

For tie dye artists, thrift flippers, and anyone who loves experimenting with fabric, a box of color remover is a must-have in your toolkit.

Can you use bleach instead of fabric color remover?

Bleach and fabric color remover are pretty different. Bleach will break down the fiber and create a yellowy-orange color. Color removers are made to strip the color from the fabric and leave the fabric in tact.

Does Rit Color Remover work on black?

Absolutely! Check out these results. Side by side comparison of Rit Color Remover and Jacquard Color Remover on geode tie dye shirts

Is Jacquard or Rit better for tie dye?

I did a comparison of the best tie dye brands but can tell you when you’re tie dyeing, Jacquard beats Rit all day!

Ready to Try It Yourself?

If you want to start experimenting, grab a box of whichever remover you find first—and don’t forget to prep your fabric in a fun fold first. Geode folds are my favorite, but you can grab 12 of my go-to tie dye folds in a free printable ebook here:
👉 https://practicalandpretty.myflodesk.com/o83j7vh2tg

And if you’d rather buy a finished piece than DIY, check out my shop for one-of-a-kind tie dye creations:
👉 https://www.etsy.com/shop/PracticalandprettyUS

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