It’s recommended that you don’t attempt to dye the fabric of any garment labelled “dry clean only”. The different fabrics absorb dye differently from one another, with results that vary in appearance. If you are concerned about a particular garment, test a swatch first.
Don’t use bath tubs made of porcelain or fiberglass for any part of the dyeing process because they will stain. You will need to be wearing rubber gloves during the entire dyeing and rinsing process.
If you want the deepest black and your tap water doesn’t get hot enough, use a stove, tea kettle or microwave to heat the water.
Check the dye packaging to make sure you are using enough dye for the amount of clothing you’re dying. The amount needed varies from product to product, so consult the packaging or insert for exact measurements.
Add one tablespoon of laundry detergent to the dye bath. This will help promote dye absorption. Make sure that you stir the laundry detergent into the dye bath until it is well dissolved. When dyeing cotton, rayon, ramie, or linen, add 1 cup of table salt to the dye bath. This will intensify the color. When dyeing nylon, silk and wool, add 1 cup of white vinegar to the dye bath to intensify the color.
Try to keep the temperature of the water as consistently hot as possible. [5] X Expert Source Rani GorgisLaundry & Cleaning Specialist Expert Interview. 7 April 2021. Have a stove top, microwave or tea kettle nearby to heat water up to use to refresh the dye bath. Another option would be to use a large stainless steel pot for the dye bath and go through the process with the pot being heated on the stove to keep a consistent temperature. If you soak your clothing in plain hot water for a few minutes before putting them in the dye bath, it will smooth them out so that they can accept dye even more easily.
When you remove the items from the dye bath, they will be wet and appear darker than the final result will be. Turn your items inside out and place them in the washing machine. [6] X Research source [7] X Expert Source Kamel AlmaniLaundry & Cleaning Specialist Expert Interview. 13 April 2021. Wash them alone in warm water with a mild detergent. Use the gentle cycle.
For the first 3 times you wash your newly dyed clothing after wearing, wash the items alone in cold water using the gentle cycle and mild, non-bleach detergent. After that you can wash the dyed items with other items of the same color that haven’t been dyed, but make sure it’s always in cold water and using a mild detergent.
This method is most effective when used on cotton fabrics, like faded black t-shirts. The effects aren’t as ideal on other types of fabrics. If you want to restore clothing to a very rich black color, coffee is less effective than black fabric dye. Coffee will have more natural-looking results.
You can also use 2 cups of black tea instead of the coffee for similar results, if that’s your preference. It doesn’t matter how you get the two cups of coffee, as long as they are fresh and dark. If you’re an instant coffee drinker, it’s perfectly fine to make your coffee with that. Being brewed by a coffee maker isn’t a requirement.
If you’ve used commercial fabric dyes on your clothing before, you’ll notice that this method smells much better during the process and after. The coffee method is also non-toxic, and you don’t have to worry about coffee staining the basin of your washing machine.
To get away with washing your dark clothes infrequently, take them off and let them air out after wearing them instead of washing. Put the item on a hanger and hang it somewhere by itself for a day before putting it back in the closet. After wearing the item and air drying 2 or 3 times, go ahead and wash it.
If you wash delicate items with garments made of heavier fabric, the delicates can get damaged and the heavier fabrics probably won’t get as clean as they should. [10] X Trustworthy Source Consumer Reports Nonprofit organization dedicated to consumer advocacy and product testing Go to source
If you really want to avoid hand washing your laundry, the next best thing is to get a small mesh bag for your delicates. Put them in the mesh bag prior to putting them in the washing machine. This will cut down on damage to your delicates. If you have any garments that you are unsure how to launder, dry clean them.
If your washing machine also has a soil setting, always use the light-soil setting (unless your clothes are really dirty). The light-soil setting is far gentler on dark color than the other settings. [12] X Trustworthy Source Consumer Reports Nonprofit organization dedicated to consumer advocacy and product testing Go to source
Use the minimum amount of detergent necessary to get your garments clean. Excess detergent can lead to fading.
Once completely dry, they are ready to be stored in your closet with the rest of your wardrobe.
