TIPical Mary Ellen host Mary Ellen Pinkham offers tips for dyeing clothes to make them last longer.
- Be sure to launder and dry clothing before dyeing. Dirt and stains will prevent the dye from absorbing into the fabric. Also, keep in mind that cotton, rayon and linen are fabrics that best hold dyes.
- Be sure to wear plastic gloves to prevent dyeing your hands.
- When setting the dye in clothing, always do each article separately. Add one cup of salt to the dye mixture, then let the fabric soak for one hour.
- Rinse the clothing item in cold water until the water is clear of any color.
- Let the dyed items sit for at least two hours until the dye sets. Keep the clothing well moistened throughout this process.
- After dyeing, launder the dyed clothing items in the washing machine separately in hot water and detergent. This washes out any excess unsaturated dye.
- Some practical uses for dyeing fabrics include matching two similarly colored nylon stockings into a pair. Just drop both stockings into boiling water and add a couple of tea bags. Remove them when the water has cooled and they should match perfectly. The more tea bags you use, the darker the shade. This will also work on old, gray-looking lingerie.
- Hide a fruit-drink stain on a child's shirt by tie-dyeing it
- For fabrics such as synthetics that don't seem to take the dye, try this method: Pour two bottles of dye into a large pot and throw the clothes into the pot, along with enough water to cover the items. Add two cups of white distilled vinegar and boil for two hours.
