Save Money Dyeing Clothes and Fabrics
I was checking out at Jo Ann Fabrics today. The woman in line with me looked at the box of dye I was holding and asked what is that and what do you use it for? I have talked about dye before but thought maybe some of our new readers need me to mention it again. I forget that many people don’t have a clue on how to use dye or even that the average person can use it. It is one of those things that is thought of as having strange magical powers and if you aren’t careful it might explode or, even worse, change your favorite red top to purple.
Believe it or not, years ago when I was growing up the average home had a small collection of several different colors of dyes on the pantry shelf. It was used all of the time. In those days, people were more of the mind that you don’t throw anything out, so to make those red towels look nice in your purple bathroom, you would dye them to match. You wouldn’t dream of getting rid of them and buying more just to make everything match.
Now, if a pair of pants fade we just toss them or wear them faded. But it really doesn’t need to be that way. I bought myself a box of denim blue dye. I have 2 pairs of shorts and 2 pairs of jeans which are in perfect condition. They are just badly faded. I will dye them together with some faded navy socks and they will look like new. The next time I go, I will get a box of black dye and dye my black jeans, t-shirts and socks.
I figure if I can’t wear the item except around the house anyway what do I have to lose if I ruin it? …although it really is hard to ruin anything.
I also use dye with my fabric. If I have some really ugly fabric, I just toss it in with a color of dye or tea dye and usually come up with something really great.
If you need three yards of orange or green fabric for a Halloween costume but you only have three yards of white muslin, cream fabric or even an old sheet, just dye them orange and then make your costume. The dye is much cheaper than buying new fabric.
If you have some ugly brown fabric but need a black cape, dye the brown fabric black. Maybe you already have a brown cape but need a black one. Just dye the cape, dress or whatever you are using for a costume the color you need.
Dye is so easy to use. I would start simply so you can get used to working with the dye. You might try dyeing something like black socks and t-shirts, which you would probably throw out anyway because they are faded.
Dye comes in liquid or powder form and they both work fine. I like them both equally as well. Follow the instructions on the package, which usually say to dissolve the dye, dump it in the machine with some salt, wash and dry. It is about as easy as doing a load of laundry. You can also hand dye things if you don’t have a machine.
If you are throwing those pants away because they are faded, try dyeing them and see what happens. Dye isn’t expensive. I use my Jo Ann Fabrics coupon and get it half price for about $1.25. You can get it at Wal-Mart and even some dollar stores or grocery stores.
-Jill
Note: You can also mix the dye in a cup or two of water (depending on how dark you want it) and use it as a stain for wood things, like furniture. You don’t need to mix the liquid to use as a stain.
I have used dye, but never in my washing machine. Does it stain the machine?
When I dye in my machine, once I am done I immediately run a full cycle, warm water with soap and bleach for an extra large load. I have never seen any staining in my machine.
Yes I do the same and have never had a bit of problems at all.
Wow – Jill – what a great idea. I remember as a kid my Mom use to dye our bedroom curtains. This is a great idea to put some jazz back in to some of my favorite jeans or black pants that get dull after washing them a few times. I am going to try this – thanks for the great tip!
Hugs,
Glenda
How can you ensure the dye won’t transfer to other things in the wash later when you wash the dyed item? This has always made me hesitant. I tend to only sort our laundry into 2 loads, denim and everything else. I know I should really sort further, but this works best for us with denim work uniforms and the amount of clothing we have.
The instructs say to add a cup of salt when you dye your things this helps with the dye bleeding. I find my dyed things don’t bleed too much more then regular clothes do. To be safe though I sometimes wash them once or twice by themselves unless it is something like my dark blue or black things and then I just wash with like colors and there is no problem.
I figure it is worth the savings to wash something carefully one or two times if it means not buying new.
If you are still worried then just use the dye for things like curtains, costumes or things you will be washing on their own or with like colors. This alone can save you a bunch.
And Lucy if you dye something navy or black there is no reason you can’t wash them in with your denims with no problem.
As far as staining the wash machine goes the instructions say to run clorax through one cycle to clean it out. I do this but personally I have never found dye anywhere inside of my machine and a couple of times forgot to do this and had nothing show up.
Hope this helps,
Jill
The fun thing is buying something in a spring color and then changing it into a warmer color when fall rolls around.
I picked up a *fabulous* winter coat yesterday at Goodwill (only $6 for a down-filled Eddie Bauer coat!!), but I’m not crazy about the color. I read this post right after I got home and wondered if I could dye my down coat? Any experience with that?
Jill,
Can you give out the name brand of dye you use, or that you have found works best?
Thanks!
Brandy
Brandy I use just good old Rit dye. One thing also to keep in mind is if you use 8 pairs of jeans to try and get a dark color you need to use 2 packages of dye. The deeper the color you want the fewer clothes or more dye you need to use. The instructions are all on the box.
Also the longer it soaks in the dye the deeper the color turns out. I reset my wash to do the wash cycle 2-3 times so they get a good soaking.
Just be sure to use the salt like it tells you too.
Jill
Penny I’m not sure what to tell you on your down coat. I’m sure it will dye but being down I’m not so sure about washing it. They are starting to make some down items which can be washed now but so many still need to be dry cleaned so that would be my concern with you coat.
If you only paid $6 for it and you really hate the color it might be worth the try but read the cleaning instructions on it and if it says dry clean only you might want to wait.
If any one else has any suggestions please jump in.
Jill
A friend of mine even dyes her bathroom rugs when she change the color in there.
I do forget about doing this though so it was nice to be reminded. Gives you lots more options for garage sale and thrift store finds as well!
Check the washing instructions on the down coat. All the ones we’ve bought recently are machine wash, dryclean optional. Anyway, most can be machine washed and air dried (and say so on the tag). This works better on coats with quilting, if you’s doesn’t have quilting, hang onto the hem and shake vigorously for several minutes to redistribute the down.
Washing the coat is usually fine with down. You must avoid drying it in the dryer – it’s a fire hazard. But washing it in cold is usually fine.
Waterproofed or water-resistant coating may not take the die as well as regular nylon coat material.
Just some more ideas!
Lea
Jill/Tawra,
I’m sure it was a typo on your end but that should read Rit Dye.not Rite dye. I agree this stuff has been around for years and works great.
Yep that was a typo. sorry! It’s Rit dye. Tawra
Down does well on air dry w/ a couple of tennis balls….I do it all the time.
I just wanted to add to this. When my girls were young I used to buy the plain white sneakers, then I bought lots of white cotton things at the thrift store. I would take a couple of tops, pants , the sneakers and dye them all the same colour. Using a couple of packs of dye. I did sweaters and striped t’shirts too. When they were finnished they all mixed and matched. The girls loved their “designer” fashions, that no one else at shcool had. LOL,
and at that time as a single Mom, I loved that the dye usually cost me more than the clothing.
I agree so much! I have been using Rit Dye on my clothes since I was a teenager. I re-dye my black clothes every fall and they look like new. I also dye my husband’s favorite pants to the color of his work uniform so that he can wear them instead
I can’t tell you how many colors I’ve used to refresh or even change my clothes. A new color, some new buttons and voila! A new look. I even dyed some thrift store pants and a shirt purple last year to make my son a joker costume. He loved it so much that he’s wearing it again this year. All said and done I think the whole costume ws about $11.00 including the homemade face paint! Not bad for at least 2 years worth of a costume! I’ve used the stove top, bucket and washing machine methods. They all work great. Home dyeing rocks!
Ha, you must have a lot of readers in my area. I looked at my local Wal-Mart yesterday and they were sold out of Denim Blue, Navy and Black Rit dye!
I’ve also heard that if you turn your denim jeans inside out before washing them they will not fade as quickly. Re-dyeing denim is a good idea. My suggestion for those who have both dark and light colored denims is to wash your lighter colored denims separately from your darker dyed denims. That way you don’t have to worry about the darker dyes discoloring your lighter colored denims.
Many clothes say “dry clean” (which is done less frequently) because the manufacturer doesn’t want to assume responsiblity for telling you to wash them (which is done more often and is more abrasive). If you turn clothing inside out, place them in a net bag in the washer, and use the gentle cycle you may be able to get away with it.
I also wash down jackets and use tennis balls in the dryer to “beat” so the down is distributed throughout the coat instead of drying into large clumps.
You wrote about ‘tea’ color??? I don’t look good in bright white…my coloring looks better in off-white or ivory, and I’m just wondering how you use ‘tea’ to get something white to a creamy or ivory color?
Also – has anyone ever tried dying in a front load machine??? I keep wanting to sneak in to a laundromat to dye some things, but I’m too afraid of getting caught, even though I would run another cycle with Clorox so it wouldn’t affect anyone else.
Another tip I read is to have your items that you want to dye already wet, so that it doesn’t take so long or as much of the liquid to soak them and begin to dye the color in to them. (Did that make any sense at all???) Sorry! LOL!
AND – Not Your Daughter’s Jeans told me that when your jeans are new and dark wash denim, to rinse them the first time with vinegar in the water and that will help retain some of dark coloring longer.
My Mom used to use Rit Dye all the time as I was growing up, and I have a friend who dyes all of her black clothing items two times a year…once in the Fall and again in the Spring, so all the blacks match. She does the same with navy coordinates.
So what about fron loaders? And how do you dye stark white clothing a creamy or off-white color??? The tea thing you mentioned?
Thanks so much! Cheryl
Cheryl I have dyed in a front loader. It is a little harder but not bad. I start up the machine and let as much water into it as it will do, add the dye, start it and swish about 1 min. then add the wet clothes. I am not sure you would like the look of the tea dye to make your things ivory. It has more of an old stained look about it or darker tan depending how long you leave it etc. but you might check and see if they have a cream or ivory dye. They have some really different colors now. If you want you could too take a piece of rag or scrape fabric and using 1 tea bag and hot water see what the white rag looks like as to whether you like it or not.
You are right about the vinegar. Salt works too and the dye box says to add salt while you are dyeing. I do both I add salt while I am dyeing and then the vinegar to rinse it in.
I use dye on all my black pants and jeans 1-2 times per year instead of buying new ones. I love the cheap canvas tennis shoes I get at Wal-Mart, though they frequently are out of my size (6). I’ll buy an extra pair or two of white ones and dye them to what ever color I was looking for. Especially great if you buy at summer’s end when they go on sale for less than $5.00 per pair. Red, Blue and Black are my favorite colors.
Deanna I didn’t think about dying my tennis shoes (I wear the same kind) duhhh???
oh wow deanna.. i was looking for those little shoes just recently and the walmarts in our area do not even sell them .. i remember when i was a kid we used to buy those at the supermarket for either $1 and sometimes less ..
They are getting harder to find Rose. I have found some at Target on sell for $5 a long time ago but now I mostly get mine at the thrift store. One thing about finding them there is they are usually brand new. People either love them and wear them out or hate them and give them away so they are like new.
Anyone try dyeing painters cloth? I have the natural colored clothes and use them as drapes. They are great and cheap however, having some additional color options would be great. Since it is quite heavy would it still work with dyeing them do you think?
Thanks!
Dawn I have never done it myself but I have known others who have successfully. You may just have to use an extra box of dye to play it save.
Plus if anyone needs some lighter weight or sheer like curtains you can use cheese cloth and dye it if you like. You can buy cheese cloth on a bolt at most fabric stores and it is very inexpensive off of the bolt.
I have two rag rugs that were originally tan but I dyed them brown with rit dye. Now they have a tint of red to them. What color dye should I use now to cancel out the red?
You might try a tiny amount of green. Green and red make brown and if you want a reddish brown you add more red than green so logically I would think add a little more green would make it more of a truer brown.
I am no artist so please any of our artist friends out there feel free to jump in for me. :)
Years ago, I was a poor working gal and needed a beige slip. The old white slip which I tea dyed had lace insets on it which dyed a slightly different shade of beige. It turned out so pretty that I wore it often. Nylon/polyester type
fabrics don’t absorb dye like cotton. I just made up a strong tea and first dyed an old pair of nylon panties to see how dark the color would be. I was really pleased with the tea dye. Tommie in Abilene, TX
Wow! What a lot of great ideas!
I work at a fabric and crafts store and I have gotten that question a few times. I totally forgot that Mommy used to die old sheets to make costumes for us AND she dyed the throw rug in my bedroom. I really liked that idea of buying a white outfit at the thrift store and dying them all together! I’m not to keen on using my washing machine… Even if the instruction say so. I remember Mommy also dying the washer…
On the other hand… I had an optician tell me how to darken my glasses with black Rit dye! Take the lens out and soak them in dye until they are as dark as you want them. Use chop sticks to remove them from the dye and let them dry. Now your old sunglasses are dark again! I haven’t done it yet… But I think I may try it! My sunglasses are too light.
Thank you for sharing!
hi jill I Bought a costume for my son and it’s a cream color but i want it to be a brown color like the same color as a monk costume. how much color do i use and how long does it take for it to start turning brown. and can i take it out to see if i wanted that light or dark and than if it is too light can i put it back in the washer. also i don’t have a washer is it safe to used the washer in my apartment complex. if i do it in the bathtube how much water do i use. it’s my first time and i need help. im thinking about using brown washable hair spray would that work just spray the the washable hair color on his costume i don’t know and 31 is almost here can you please help me.
You can put hot water in a large pot on the stove and do it that way. You might go to a store and read the instructions on the dye packet and it will tell you a couple of different ways you can do it on there. If you are wanting it to be a dark brown like a monk costume then I would let it soak the full amount of time that it says to do on the back of the package plus yes you can pull it out part way through to see if it is dark enough. I have never had any problem with it bothering any washer I have had and everyone I know has had no problem with it. I do run the washer through a cycle when I am done to make sure it got rinsed good although I have forgot to do this a couple of times and it didn’t seem to matter much.
I wouldn’t do it in the bathtub because it would take to much water but instead use a large pot or washer. You could try the hair spray too. I have never used it but I’m not sure why it wouldn’t work. I wouldn’t stress over it too much too. The dye packet says to use 2 packets for extra dark you I have always used one and since it is just a Halloween costume it should work ok for something like that.
I just dyed a pair of ugly lavender skinny jeans black! I really wanted a black pair and hated the purple, I used my 1/2 off coupon and now have nice black skinny jeans!
I love redying my clothes black.
You really can`t tell how old they are.
But to take it one step further: do you have any leftover/unwanted haircolor/ semipermanent in the house?
This is perfekt for colour- resistent small items like underwear.
I have used dye for YEARS! It’s a wonderful way of prolonging clothing you love by changing the color all together or by just perking it up a bit. There was one line of clothing I really liked, and one of the colors I wore was black. The line was a great line and wore well, but after a year or so I’d notice it would start to lacked luster. Probably no one would have noticed it but me, but I’d throw it/them into a washer with black Rit dye and everything always cam out looking like new. I think I think I could have worn those clothes for years, had I chosen to. BTW, with the other colors, I used dye also, but not being the same exact color, it would alter the original and usually become more intense, which in the long run was only for the better. I wear jewel tones the best. ;-)
My only concern about dying the down coat mentioned early on, is what the outside or main body fabric of the coat is. Polyester and many synthetics do not take dye well. Natural fibers such as cotton. linen and wool dye beautifully. Remember that if the thread used to make the garment is not a natural fiber, it will not dye while the rest of the garment does. Many of the while shirts I have dyed to a dark colour have ended up with a stark white stitching detail, which is fine, too, if you like it.
Washing the down coat should be fine. Down washes just fine. You will need a good windy day to get it dry!! I wash eider-down quilts. I always wait for a really nice sunny but windy day, before I wash. I throw them over a couple of lines on the rotary line. Often have to turn them over and leave them to dry another day. I cant see why you could not dye them. Except you may need extra dye, because all the feathers will probably absorb some of the dye. But if the coat was cheap enough, an extra pot of dye is unlikely to upset the budget. I often dye things. Especially older bras and panties – you know, when the originally white or cream ones look a little grey?? So, if you are dying some jeans, or some curtains a pretty colour, I toss in the undies. Voila!! New undies. Cheers me up no end. [Not keen on the denim colour, though. I’d do them hot pink or purple!]
For the lady with the drop cloths: as long as they are cotton or linen, they will dye beautifully. My mother had curtains made of ‘backing’ cloth, years ago. That is unbleached calico. We had six 6ft square curtains. I used them for years, after I got married, and as I shifted from place to place, dyed them. I put them in the bathtub, with as hot water as I could get from our water heater and added a few saucepans full or kettles full of boiling water. Let them soak in the colour, till the water was cool enough to handle. I poked and stirred them occasionally with a very large wooden spoon! When I could put my hands in, I pulled them out and wrung them roughly. Then I hung them on the line, and hosed them down with the hose, to rinse. I figured it did not matter if not well rinsed. They were unlikely to get washed very often, and never with other clothes so it would not matter if their colour ran! (That is why you rinse and rinse – so the colour won’t run, when you wash them in with other things.)
Can anybody tell me how to dye Ivory to White? Is there any paint or dye for that purpose and how I can use it? Also, my only problem when I dye fabrics is that the fabrics seam to get permanent wrinkles. How can I avoid that from happening? Thank you.
You really can’t usually something dark and dye it lighter. The only way it might work is if you try bleaching something that is 100% cotton. As far as the wrinkles go I don’t know what would cause that problem because I am pretty sure dying does not change the actually fabric and cause more or less wrinkles. One thing I have recently been using though on my regular fabric to get rid of heavy fold lines and such is to put about a capful of Downy in a spray bottle (12-16 oz), fill rest of the way up with water then spray and iron. I was shocked at how well this worked. I have used vinegar, spray starches and all kinds of different things and have not had anything work so well as this.