(Top & Front Loading) Step by Step Guide to Dye Fabric!

[@2thesunnyside]

We hope you enjoyed Round 2 of IKEA curtain hacks! As promised you can download a FREE cheat sheet with all the steps to dyeing fabric in your washing machine stress free! Grab it here: www.2thesunnyside.com/free-gift-signup-page/

[@wendywendy8157]

Thank you so much for this detailed overview! Never understood why you need to dilute dye and you explained it so well!

[@2thesunnyside]

We're glad you found our video helpful! Thanks for watching.

[@savannahbrewer6161]

Salt for plant based fiber (cotton, linen, etc.) vinegar for protein based fiber (wool, silk etc.)

[@Alan01]

Thank you for making this video, the included instructions and even the RIT videos are anything but clear.

[@2thesunnyside]

We hear your frustration! That's why we tackled this video after much research and frustration ourselves. The goal is to have all the info in one spot! Thanks for watching.

[@a.joegevara3519]

Just started a new job, I bought several pairs of double knee work pants; khaki, green & gray. Just to find out we're supposed to either have khaki or black 😮 I'm dying 4 pairs to black now! This was so helpful. I'm about to drain them and add the colorstay fixative.

[@kirstenhoeve7130]

Thank you for how thorough this is! I’m definitely going to be giving this a try.

[@2thesunnyside]

We're so happy to hear you found this video helpful! Let us know how your project turns out!

[@ann-louisep7573]

Thank you for the great instructions

[@2thesunnyside]

You bet! Glad you found them helpful

[@michelledickson9507]

Thanks for the tips, I can't wait to try dyeing fabric in my washing machine.

[@2thesunnyside]

Thanks for watching! Be sure to grab our free cheat sheet with all the steps 🙌🏻

[@Kabluey17]

This is such a great video. Thank you for sharing!

[@2thesunnyside]

Thanks for watching! We're glad you liked it 🙌🏻

[@Riseup425]

thank you so much for this informative video! i was so confused

[@2thesunnyside]

Confused before the video and not after we hope 🤣 There's definitely a lot of info!

[@TheMollie13]

I’m wanting to use my front loader washing machine with the liquid dye. When you put the liquid dye into the drawer you say to dilute the dye putting into your drawer. How much do you dilute the liquid dye when you are putting it into the drawer

[@2thesunnyside]

Great question. I don't think we measured out how diluted it was. We poured in a little dye then closed the detergent receptacle. That then drained into the machine and we pulled the receptacle open and poured in water then closed it again and allowed that to drain into the machine. So maybe add 1 portion of dye to 2 portions of water and continue that until all the dye has been added to the machine.

[@TraceyBrisbois]

Excellent tutorial.

[@2thesunnyside]

Glad you liked it!

[@staceypd1701]

I"m dyeing cotton canvas slip covers for my couch and chair. I should not use the dryer, right?

[@2thesunnyside]

You should be able to use the dryer with that kind of fabric. In fact using the dryer will help set the dye into the fabric.

[@a.c.d6386]

I was just confused as to where i should add the dye liquid. I have a liquid tray, but i also have a bleach dispenser. I should just put the dye mixture in the liquid tray?

[@2thesunnyside]

Yes use the liquid tray, not the bleach dispenser

[@anita8473]

I have a white cotton midi coat and 1 bottle of Rit color is not enough for it, but how much salt? I use a washing machine. Do you put the salt in the drum of the washing machine and the dye in the detergent compartment?

[@taratjs]

They dissolved the salt into water first. If using a top loader, salt and dye goes into the drum. If using a front loader, they put salt and dye diluted with water in the detergent compartment. 3:12 1 cup of salt per dry pound of fabric. 2:32 1 bottle of dye for every 2 pounds of dry fabric. Hope that helps ☺️

[@cheryldalbec1516]

Do you add the dye plus the salt or vinegar and dish soap all together for the dyeing process or just use the dye then take the fabric out and add salt or vinegar with the dish soap then wash the fabric again. Plus can you clarify if I’m dyeing wool do I use vinegar?

[@2thesunnyside]

Yes, add all of those ingredients at the same time. For wool you'll want to use vinegar.

[@jamiebond3619]

Is it 1 bottle liquid dye for every pound or 1 bottle for every 2lbs dry fabric? In your illustration it shows 1 bottle liquid for 2 lbs dry fabric, but verbally you say 1 bottle per 1lb dry fabric.

[@2thesunnyside]

Apologies for the confusion. Sometimes I don't even realize I've said the incorrect thing until viewers point it out to me. Yes, the illustration is correct. 1 bottle liquid dye for 2lbs dry fabric.

[@jamiebond3619]

Thank you! @@2thesunnyside

[@zenitajames4139]

What should I use for denim jeans? Salt or vinegar?

[@blessedbygod3430]

Salt

[@taratjs]

Look at the tag to see what the majority material percentage of the fabric is (likely cotton, which would be salt). *If they’re more of a stretch denim (ie: synthetic material), I think RIT makes a specific dye for that. Hope that helps 😊

[@charlottelogue3449]

Do you know if it is possible to use rit pro line powder in a machine? I emailed rit to ask if this would be the same method as using the normal powder in a machine, but have never had a response 😕

[@2thesunnyside]

We're not sure. But you could always try it on scrap fabric to test it before hand. We'd assume it would be the same process but can't say for sure. Hopefully they'll respond to you soon.

[@lizard_master3171]

As I was doing step 1 my machine decided to drain all the dye water 😡

[@2thesunnyside]

Awe man that stinks! I think it's harder to keep water in the basin with newer machines. They're too smart for our own good!

[@amhcosplays]

Sounds like an HE washer. Rit claims it has online instructions for dyeing in an HE washer but I haven’t located them anywhere.

[@2thesunnyside]

Believe us! We tried to find them everywhere too! We had to gather all our info from all over the place!

[@aliciaruddy9677]

My machine did the same thing...I quickly unplugged it and the water kept....now I know but overall worked good. I have a HE top load

[@sparxidigi]

How much soap per gallon or poubd of fabric? Salt or vinegar for microfiber?

[@vivecasolbrekken7930]

Can you dye sun bleached grey patio cushion covers a lighter shade? Thinking a cream color.

[@2thesunnyside]

You can always try. But I don't think the final look will be lighter than what you're starting with

[@alexrusso6503]

As anyone who has tried this or you guys had issues with the dye staining the machine i have the same top loader as shown in the video? Im really interested to know bc im trying to dye a large blanket black as well and theres no pot or tub ive found big enough nor way to keep water hot long enough for the dye to start to work! Never dyed anything before so really worried abour ruining my houses washer!

[@2thesunnyside]

You should be able to dye in your washer. You'll definitely want to run a cycle with bleach afterward to clean the machine out. Our machine was definitely dirty, but did not stain

[@alexrusso6503]

@@2thesunnyside thank you for answering my question! When I finally get around to it I will update with how it went!! Thanks so much again- looking forward to confidently being able to dye in my washer!

[@2thesunnyside]

👍🏻

[@MicaleStearns]

If I’m doing 4lbs of fabric, how much salt do I use? I imagine it’s 1 cup per bottle used (2 bottles of liquid dye used).

[@taratjs]

4 cups. (1 cup of salt per dry pound of fabric)

[@jamiebond3619]

what if your item is 12 lbs dry? It is a canopy tent for a bed. It is burlap/cotton material from Pottery Barn. I have a front loading HE machine. I'm dying it Cherry Red (it's a very light off white color right now).I'm trying to create a snoopy dog house bed for my son.

[@jamiebond3619]

correction: canvas material. I have pre-washed it in my front loader, and it was fine. The rit website doesn't recommend using front loaders for items weighing more than 4-6lbs, but it's going to be hard to dye this anywhere else because it is so big. Please help!

[@2thesunnyside]

Sounds like his bed is going to turn out awesome! You'll have to let us know how it turns out! For 12lbs of dry fabric you'll need 6 bottles of dye. Be sure to use salt and color fixative to intensify the color.

[@2thesunnyside]

I can see why RIT doesn't recommend more than 6lbs. because it would be hard to submerge that much fabric in the dye. But it never hurts to give it a try. The only other way I would think of trying it is in a large container like a storage bin that you don't care if it turns red, or a large kids swimming pool etc. A top loader would probably be a little easier with that much fabric. But again it never hurts to try. And if you don't think the fabric absorbed enough color you could try it in a large container as the second method.

[@tncljh]

My towels are totally uneven coloured :( i have a front loader any tips?

[@2thesunnyside]

sometimes front loaders don't dispense enough water. If your washer has an option to add more water that should help. Then you could run another load and add more dye. If not, you may need to dye them in a large bin or on the stove top.

[@chealsyvargas6772]

Question did it stain your washer?

[@2thesunnyside]

Great question! No it didn't. We did run a load of hot bleach water with old towels after to give it a good cleaning. If you have a front loader it may stain some of the plastic components near the door...but the metal should be fine.

[@jamiebond3619]

What type of paint do you recommend for painting black lines across the fabric (snoopy's doghouse).

[@2thesunnyside]

Any type of acrylic paint will work, BUT you need to mix it with fabric medium to make sure the paint stays on the fabric.

[@jamiebond3619]

Thank you! What is "Fabric Medium?" Also, my item is a canvas cotton tent for a canopy bed. it weighs 12lbs dry and the Rit website says I cannot use a front loader washing machine to dye it because the max is 4-6lbs. Any recommendation for dying this off white beast a cherry red? How would you dye it? @@2thesunnyside

[@2thesunnyside]

amzn.to/3H5Cv3B Here's a link to fabric medium. You mix it in with the paint to get better adhesion to the fabric and it extends the wear of the paint from washing off the fabric (say if you were to wash the item periodically). The best idea I would say to dye that much fabric is to get a large tub or bin that fits all the fabric and would hold HOT water.

[@jamiebond3619]

Thank you once again!@@2thesunnyside

[@khatuna801]

My dress didn’t dye. What did I do wrong?

[@2thesunnyside]

was it the type of fabric? synthetics won't accept dye

[@TheWardenMark]

I'm scared to use the washer machine for projects like these.

[@2thesunnyside]

Are you worried it will get stained?

[@SharonValentine-v7i]

Rot dye printable instructions for wash machine

[@wadoshintoyoshin]

Oh man you mean I can't use a cup of dishwashing detergent in my washing machine?😂

[@2thesunnyside]

Guess not! 😂

[@alcifrerdewich2323]

nice but too confusing

[@2thesunnyside]

There are definitely a lot of variables that can make this process confusing.

[@raulaybar323]

Talk to much I don't like it demostration

[@2thesunnyside]

thanks for your feedback