Abstract: The present invention provides a process that utilizes synergistic chemical systems for decolorizing synthetic polymer materials, such as polyester, in a variety of shapes including fibers, yarns, fabrics, sheets and films. These chemical systems are unstable dispersions of alkyl halides and aqueous solutions of bleaching/oxidizing agents, such as the alkali metal salts of hypohalites, to which specified quantities of organic or inorganic acids and of surfactant/wetting agents are added. The polymeric materials are exposed to the activated chemical systems in appropriate reaction vessels. The stripping process is rapid and the resulting products are completely color-free. Further, the alkyl halide and bleaching/oxidizing components of the chemical systems can be reclaimed after the decolorizing process for recycling.