How to Bleach Denim Shorts

Bleaching denim shorts is a way to get them to the color you want. While it is easy to simply submerge a pair of shorts in a bleach and water solution for a few hours, this technique will not give you variations of color. If you want to create a multi-shaded look, you need to bleach your shorts by hand, which takes more time but lets you get more creative with the look of your favorite pair of summer shorts.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Rubber gloves
• Sponge
• Old towel
• Liquid bleach
• Plastic bowl
• Plastic garbage bag

1. Lay the old towel on a flat surface, and arrange your shorts on top of it. If you want to make the front of your shorts look different than the back, insert a plastic garbage bag into the shorts so the bleach won't soak through.

2. Pour some liquid bleach into a plastic bowl. Do not use a metal bowl because bleach on metal can cause a chemical reaction.

3. Put on your gloves, and dip the sponge in the bleach. Use the sponge to dab and paint bleach patterns on the shorts. Turn the shorts over and do the other side as well.

4. Wash the shorts in a cold laundry cycle. Do not put any other clothes in the washer. Do not let the bleach sit for long on the shorts before you wash them because it can eat right through the denim fibers.

5. Let your shorts dry. If you want to make the look more dramatic, repeat the process. Alternately, use a razor and sandpaper to distress your shorts (see Resources section).

Tips & Warnings

• The longer you leave bleach on shorts, the lighter they will get.

References

• Distressing and bleaching jeans

Resources

• How to distress jeans and shorts