Want to recolor your clothes?

Your favorite piece of clothing has faded and lost its original, expressive color tone, but it is too cute to get rid of? Maybe a dress that you would love to wear if only it were in a different color has been waiting for its arrival for a long time? Or maybe you have long wanted to introduce new colors into your interior without spending a lot of money? And, in the end, you may realize that it is cheaper and more environmentally friendly to give clothing a second life by brightening and renewing its colors. Fabric dyes can help not only extend the life of your favorite clothing, but also save money in a more environmentally friendly way. But what mistakes should you avoid when using textile dyes so that the result is really what you expect, explain the specialists of " Kameja ".

Remember: Textile dyes work most effectively on natural fabrics

Fabric dyes work best on fabrics made from natural materials, including cotton, linen, viscose, as well as silk or wool. When dyeing fabrics made from natural materials, you will get a durable, full-intensity shade. On the other hand, when dyeing fabrics made from a mixture of different materials (containing synthetics, for example, polyester + cotton, polyester + viscose, cotton + linen + polyester, etc.), the final result is unpredictable, the resulting shade will be slightly lighter. When dyeing fabrics made from completely synthetic fibers (polyester, acrylic, nylon), the result is unpredictable. Synthetic fibers do not absorb dye pigment well, so, taking into account the material mix of the fabric, dye uptake depends on the natural fibers. The higher the synthetic component, the less dye is absorbed. The resulting shade may be lighter, or the color may not be obtained at all. Keep in mind that when dyeing, for example, a white garment sewn with synthetic threads, the garment will turn the desired shade, but the stitching threads may remain white. And while dyeing is a great way to revive old, faded fabrics, keep in mind that fabric dye may not cover stains, faded or bleached areas on the fabric.

So, before dyeing a piece of clothing, you need to make sure of its composition. Usually, the manufacturer will indicate the fabric composition on the tag inside the garment.

Choose the appropriate fabric dyeing technique

For some natural fabrics such as wool, silk, cashmere and mohair, it is recommended to use a dye that is intended for hand dyeing. If the fabric is not intended for washing at high temperatures and there is a possibility of shrinkage, it is recommended to use dyes that are also effective at temperatures of +40 °C, for example, “Dylon” Hand Dye – a dye for hand dyeing.

It is usually more successful to re-dye a light fabric to a darker shade or to refresh and brighten an existing one (blue jeans, black clothing, etc.).

The resulting shade depends on the original color of the fabric. It should be noted that the principles of color mixing apply. For example, blue paint on red fabric will result in a purple shade. Blue paint on yellow fabric will give a green result.

If you want to change the color of your fabric from one intense shade to another, or need to dye it a lighter shade, you can bleach the fabric or remove its base color with Dylon Pre Dye. This makes the fabric lighter, giving you more options for redyeing the fabric in the desired shade.

Follow the fabric paint instructions.

In addition to the classic dyeing method of boiling fabric with fabric dye in a pot, new, more modern and much simpler methods have been introduced. With Dylon All-in-1 fabric dyes, fabric can be easily dyed in a washing machine. For dyeing small amounts of fabric or delicate fabrics, it is better to use a pot and dye by hand. On the other hand, for dyeing large pieces of fabric or several garments, you can conveniently use fabric dyes that can be used in a washing machine. Place the fabric dye together with the fabric to be dyed in the laundry compartment and start the wash cycle. To make the fabric color more durable and the tone more intense, it is necessary to add salt or vinegar. Salt is already included in the package for certain fabric dyes. Dyeing instructions and techniques may differ for each fabric dye and each manufacturer, so always carefully follow the fabric dye instructions: the ratio of dye to water, the amount of fabric to be dyed per package of dye, the required temperature, the amount of salt if it needs to be added, etc.

Place the fabric or garment in the washing machine or steamer while it is still wet. After dyeing, it is recommended to wash the dyed garments separately or with other similarly colored garments for the first few times to completely remove any dye residue. When drying dyed garments, avoid direct heat or sunlight.

Allows fabric to move freely during dyeing

During the dyeing process, the instructions for use should be carefully followed, as this can affect the quality and intensity of the shade. Each package of dye is designed for a specific amount of fabric. The fabric should float freely in the water so that it can move easily during the mixing process and absorb the dye pigment as evenly as possible. If the amount of water is too small, the fabric will be difficult to mix and the result will be spotty and uneven.

It is recommended to wash the garment before dyeing.

The fabric must be washed before dyeing. Whether it is a newly purchased fabric or a dirty garment, it must be washed before dyeing. If there is any stain or chemical coating (softener, hardener) left on the fabric, the fabric may dye unevenly and the stain may become even more visible.

What type of containers are best for manual fabric dyeing?

Always use a slightly larger container. In order for the fabric to dye evenly, it needs to move freely during the dyeing process. It is better to use a stainless steel or enamel pot. However, in any case, it is better to use an old container that you no longer use for other purposes.

Will fabric dyes stain the washing machine?

Fabric dyes intended for use in washing machines do not damage the washing machine, but you should take into account that the washing machine will need to be cleaned after dyeing and that the rubber seals, which are light gray in many machines, may become stained. Therefore, it is recommended to clean the washing machine immediately after dyeing. Pour washing powder into the washing machine, add chlorine bleach in a separate compartment, and run the longest program at the highest temperature (+90 °C).

What textile paint is recommended to use?

Depending on how much fabric you want to dye, what the fabric material is and what result you want to achieve, there are different types of fabric dyes available from several manufacturers. The Dylon brand offers a wide range of shades, both for machine dyeing and hand dyeing. A wide range of colors is also available for batik and hand dyeing dyes “Barwnik do tkanin – Biel i kolor” . Although the available fabric dyes are mainly intended for dyeing natural and mixed fabrics, we always keep up with the latest developments in order to offer a wide and varied selection of products that will also ensure the dyeing of completely synthetic fabrics.

If you know how to use fabric dyes from a specific manufacturer, you can achieve a certain and predictable result. When dyeing for the first time, or when trying new colors, you can never predict what the result will be. Sometimes it turns out even better than expected, but sometimes you have to expect failure.

To cover up minor defects or make clothing more expressive, various special markers for drawing on fabric are also available. We also offer paints for painting on fabric. The paints have a fluid consistency. The paint can be applied to fabric or an accessory with a brush or sponge.

You can use fabric paints to dye not only clothes, but also home textiles, curtains, yarn, and various handicraft materials. There are no limits to your creativity, choose one of the fabric paints that suits you best and don't be afraid to experiment. Maybe the result will surprise you. And it's that simple.