Dyeing clothes - tie dye, in the washing machine | Ansin Blog

Do you have a T-shirt in your closet that you love, but it's gotten a bit old? Or perhaps you're drawn to the colorful tie-dye trend? Try dyeing your clothes ! This way, you can give new life to clothes you no longer wear and create completely new outfits. How and with what should you dye your clothes? Find the answer below!

Dyeing clothes using the tie-dye technique

Tie-dye is a clothing dyeing technique that involves binding fabric (e.g., with rubber bands) in several places and then applying the chosen dye or dyes. Once dry, the garment will have characteristic, irregular patterns often associated with the 1960s and hippie culture . Interestingly, the history of tie-dye goes back much further! Twisted fabrics were dyed in ancient times, for example, in Peru and China, all to achieve unique, colorful patterns.

dyed clothes

Photo by Teona Swift from Pexels

How to tie-dye clothes?

The most popular and simplest way to tie-dye clothes is to bleach them . This way, you can give a new look to an old denim jacket you've grown tired of. To do so, follow the instructions below:

Gather the necessary tools. In addition to the item you're refreshing, you'll also need: bleach, a bowl, a few rubber bands, and—of course—rubber gloves.
Consider how much of the garment you want to discolor. If you want to retain more of the original color, twist and tie knots in multiple places (these areas won't discolor). If you prefer to preserve the original look only in a few spots, tie fewer knots.
Submerge the prepared garment in a bowl filled with bleach for a few hours. It's worth checking the item every few dozen minutes – some materials discolor faster, others will take longer.
Once you're satisfied with the results, carefully remove the garment from the bowl and rinse it under running water. To remove the bleach smell, rinse it in the washing machine with fabric softener. Done!

How to dye clothes colorfully?

You can also follow a similar approach if you want to dye a white T-shirt a color of your choice (or several different colors). In this case, the entire process will look like this:

Once again, start by preparing your workspace. In addition to a cotton T-shirt and dyes, you'll need rubber bands, a bowl, protective gloves, baking soda, and a plastic bag (preferably a zip-lock bag). Keep in mind that the bowl in which you'll be transforming your clothes may be irreversibly stained.
Pour hot water into a bowl, add about half a teaspoon of baking soda and soak the T-shirt in the mixture for a few minutes.
After this time, wring out the T-shirt and spread it on a flat surface.
Find the center of the shirt and pinch it with your fingers. Then, begin rolling the shirt in a "snail" pattern, creating a distinctive, irregular, spiral-shaped circle. Finally, secure the rolled-up shirt with rubber bands.
It's time to dye your clothes! Depending on the type of dye you're using, dip or spray each section of the shirt one by one. For best results, use three colors of dye, but you can use more or less. We encourage you to experiment!
Once you've achieved the desired effect, place the T-shirt in a sealed plastic bag and leave it there for about 24 hours. After that time, rinse the T-shirt under running water. Done!

dyeing clothes

Photo by Teona Swift from Pexels

How to dye clothes? Other methods

Not sold on the tie-dye trend? You can transform your clothes in another way! The traditional method is to dye your clothes in a bowl . Simply pour boiling water into the bowl and soak your chosen item, such as a white top , for about 10-15 minutes . In a second bowl – also in very hot water – you'll need to thoroughly dissolve the dye. The next step is to place your chosen item in the bowl and wait about 30 minutes (it's important to make sure the entire item is submerged). After that, simply add 4 teaspoons of vinegar to the bowl and wait another half hour. This will set the new color. Finally, put on rubber gloves, remove the item from the bowl, and rinse it under cold running water.

Also read our article: Home remedies for faded clothes .

If you'd like, you can also test dyeing your clothes in the washing machine . To do this, place a wet item in the drum and pour a solution of one package of fabric dye dissolved in two cups of hot water, one cup of salt, and one cup of vinegar. Then, run the wash cycle for at least 30 minutes, without spinning or rinsing. After the cycle is complete, manually rinse the item. Remember to run an empty wash cycle – this will allow the washing machine to clean itself. Adding a little bleach is a good idea. Finally, check for any dye that has settled in any nooks and crannies of the drum and collar.

How to dye clothes?

There are many different fabric dyes available on the market today. If you're wondering which one to choose, first check the packaging to see what type of material the product is intended for. The most popular and readily available dyes come in powder form. Their advantages include good water solubility, durability, and low price. You can find them in haberdashery stores, for example. Dyes are also available in tubes and sprays. If you have particularly sensitive skin, you can try dyeing your clothes with natural dyes . These include coffee, fruit juices (e.g., berry juices), and turmeric. This method won't provide intense color, but it's certainly more environmentally friendly.

Good luck!