Remember that you can always re-dye items that have faded.
There are some techniques to remove food coloring stains, but it’s easiest to avoid making them if you can.
The pre-soak prepares the clothes to accept the dye better than if you were to go straight to water and food coloring. Although you can dye your clothes without soaking them first, the color won’t be as vibrant!
If you’re nervous about the color being too dark, start with fewer drops and add more until you get the desired color.
If your pack of food coloring comes with white or black dyes, use those to either lighten or darken the mixture to get the color you want.
After 10-20 minutes, you will notice that the water is clearer than it was before because the dye is getting absorbed into the fabric.
The time in the resealable bag makes the dye react with the fabric faster, which gives you a more vibrant, longer-lasting color in the end.
If you have clothes that you want to dye that aren’t made from protein fibers, that’s okay too! You can still dye them—just keep in mind that the color may fade more quickly.
Rub salt into your cotton shirt before you begin to achieve more vibrant colors. There are also ways to set in the color after the clothes have been dyed.
You may also want to wear old clothing and pull back your hair before you get started.
If your bottles don’t come with a nozzle, prepare them for the tie-dyeing process by using a thumbtack to poke a hole through the lid of each water bottle after they’ve been filled. That way you can squeeze the bottle and distribute the color with a little more control.
The pre-soak in water and vinegar prepares the clothing to accept the dye.
Twist your fabric into a spiral and then wrap two rubber bands around the clothes in an “x” to create a spiral pattern. Roll your fabric into a tube and then place rubber bands periodically around the tube to create stripes. Pinch little tufts of fabric and wrap rubber bands around them to make starbursts. Make a random pattern by scrunching up the clothes and wrapping rubber bands around them wherever you want.
You may want to wear gloves during this part, as the dye will stain your hands. Don’t forget to dye each side of the clothes. For easier application, try putting your rubber-banded clothes on a baking tray to keep the dye from getting everywhere.
It’s okay if you leave the clothes for longer than 8 hours! You just want to make sure they stay in the bag for that long at a minimum.
This is a really quick and easy way to set in the dye. Check out the microwaving and baking options for some extra-strength setting methods.
Let the fabric cool down before you try and handle it, or use tongs to remove it from the bowl.
You can buy citric acid in the baking aisle at your local grocery store.
If you microwaved or baked your clothes, make sure they are cool to the touch before you rinse them out to protect yourself from burns.
Avoid laying the clothes out flat on a surface. If there is any residual dye, it could leach onto the surface.
If you have several dyed items of similar color, it’s okay to wash them all together.
You can use normal laundry detergent on your dyed items. The soap won’t harm the color in any way.
Keep in mind, too, that you can dye old or stained items of clothing to give them new life.
