How to Mix or Make Soda Ash for Tie Dyeing with Procion Dyes

In this video, I demonstrate how to Mix your Soda Ash ~. Also, I demo how to make soda ash from baking soda : one thing though, I should have used a glass dish instead of the tinfoil covered pan.
Here is the Paula Burch Site where I found the info for making soda ash from Baking Soda : www.pburch.net/dyeing/FAQ/baki...
Looking for the 4 oz Bottles with Metal tips? here is a link : amzn.to/3h46iel ... I get credit if you use this link.
How I fill the bottles : • Filling the little Bot...
Have a Question? Here is my FAQ's Page : mrtiedye.myshopify.com/pages/...
Links to all of my pages and platforms : launchlinks.io/u/MrTieDye
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#MrTieDye #RainbowWarriors #SodaAsh

[@patgardner5621]

Dear Mr. TieDye...Thank you for the excellent soda ash presentation. You are a very patient person. You make explicit, informative videos and then answer the same questions about them over and over and over. You would make a great classroom teacher....or maybe you are a classroom teacher or parent, or both. Good job!

[@MrTieDye]

Thank you and you are welcome ... I am just an artist and I have been a step dad.... but most of my training and patience for these videos came from doing tie-dye school events and home parties over the last 16 years 😁🙏✌️

[@pumpkinpieprincess]

I love how you explain stuff so gentle

[@MrTieDye]

Thank you, I have worked in the schools for 16 years explaining tie-dye to kids so I think that set me up perfect to create these videos when I was called to do so

[@susiedixon6835]

Yeah. Hes so good. Been watchin bout 4 months. I love it.

[@robbiemills6623]

@@MrTieDye to

[@carmenjohnson8826]

I have been studying your videos all winter and I've been told I've come along way with my tie dyes. I said thank you it's all because of Mr Tie dye, he's the greatest. I say I study with Mr tie dye. Thank you

[@BSwint-xj7sd]

Mr. TieDye, thank you so much for your videos!! I absolutely love how you show multiple methods in case people don’t have all supplies available 😊

[@MrTieDye]

you are welcome ... I try to make it easier for anyone to be able to do tie-dye and have fun and success with it ✌🏻

[@ninavanlankveld6918]

Hi Mr. Tie Dye, I am making soda ash to use for my students, and this really helped me on how to make it from baking soda. Now my students can enjoy making tie dyes!

[@alberts1985]

I’m impressed as usual. Did not know about the whole baking soda hack - professional work

[@Grapemom23]

I enjoy your videos. I am learning so much. I love that I can just follow along. I wear hearing aids, and some videos I just can't follow. I have my shirts, now to order my dyes. Thanks again :)

[@MrTieDye]

thank you and you are welcome, I am glad to be of help to you... I love this art and love sharing it with the World!! 🌎

[@KarenMargaretSchmidler]

I want to thank you for your excellent videos. You are the best! I too have been tying and dying for 30 years. Its great to obsess and hear all your tricks and special ways of doing the fantastic things you do! Thank you so so much! Keep on truckin!

[@MrTieDye]

Wonderful... I am glad to be of help to you... I do try to find easier ways of doing things so I am always experimenting with some thing 😉✌🏻🙏

[@lilsleepyz]

MrTieDye You Are So Helpful thank you for these videos!!

[@jseal21]

Thank you for the info and excellent explanation. Made a batch of faded tees and I'm gonna give soda ash a go

[@MrTieDye]

you are welcome 🙏

[@christinegravelle8054]

Thanks for this video, I am new at this and I’m Practising on a few shirts before I do my big project, which is a completely white dress that I would love to make into some kind of beautiful tie dye. So I guess you are the guy I should be watching, new subscriber and can’t wait to learn a lot from you. thanks

[@MrTieDye]

that is awesome, Welcome to the Wonderful World of Tie-Dye.... here is my beginner's playlist ..... kzbin.info/aero/PLMEtBqB2BzuquDrHsqxbv8LdFkaIyy3wo and I have many other lists with a ton of videos in them so have fun exploring and yes it is good to practice before you start on a dress project ... let me know if I can help or answer questions for you :) and most of all, have fun!!

[@nathan2476]

Thanks super helpful I just got into screen printing a design i drew and people have been asking for a tiedye version and only can afford baking soda+1xdye kit this really helped thankyou!!!!

[@MrTieDye]

You're so welcome ... have fun and I Wish you success!! ... one thing, if it is a 'One Step Kit' I recommend doing a soda ash soak and then tying all of your tees, once you have everything ready, then mix the dyes.... they are active as soon as you add water and you will get the best colors if used right away ... here is my Beginner's Playlist, the 5th video I talk about ways to improve your colors and some of the tips are for the store bought kits :kzbin.info/aero/PLMEtBqB2BzuquDrHsqxbv8LdFkaIyy3wo

[@IAMGiftbearer]

Good explanation! I have a bunch of stuff I need to dye and wanted to make sure I did this the right way before doing the dye part.

[@MrTieDye]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777]

Best video I have seen on this. I read about this 40 years ago but it was NOT very clear - back when we were using Grocery store dyes like RIT. Have done workshops with so called 'tie dye' experts and they appear to INTENTIONALLY leave out important aspects (making it mysterious and maybe they afraid of losing sales on 3 t-shirts) Thanks for your efforts.

[@MrTieDye]

Thank you and you are welcome.... and yes I love to help others have fun and success with this art ... so just in case, here is more info : Hello and Welcome to the Wonderful World of Tie-Dye .... I use Procion Dyes I pre wash and pre soak the cotton tees in a Soda Ash solution, this raises the pH level of the cotton which activates the Procion Dyes (sources listed below) and causes a chemical bond to form between the cotton fibers and the Procion Dyes. (Procion Dyes work on other natural fibers as well like : Bamboo, Hemp, Linen, Rayon, and even silk, but I use a slightly different process for silk) I have a ton of videos that are sorted into many different playlists so be sure to explore … 
 I have put a bunch of videos into one Playlist to help get you started with an overview of Tie-Dye, and then how to mix the Dyes, mix or make Soda Ash, Batch the tees (let the dyes set up so the bonding can happen), and the Rinse/Wash Out Process... Also, I have many videos on the basic folds and various ways of dyeing the cotton tees or tapestries ... Have fun exploring and I wish you success on your Tie-Dye Journey, Oh and I recommend taking photos of your work so you can look back and see how far you have come as this is an art that you will need to practice, but it pays off with getting better each time you do it ..... This art can be quite addictive, you have been warned lol 😉 Here is my Beginner's Playlist : kzbin.info/aero/PLMEtBqB2BzuquDrHsqxbv8LdFkaIyy3wo ✌🏻❤️🌈🥳🙏 Here is a list with some more folds to try out : kzbin.info/aero/PLMEtBqB2Bzupqjuh_6wdf-wMlgGdAjVaE Plus, there are many other tie-dye artists who share their techniques so others can learn, here is a list I have compiled that were mentioned in the tie-dye pages : kzbin.infochannels Most Dyers use Procion Dyes, so just in case you are looking for sources for those, here are the main places to buy them from in the US : CA : Dharma : www.dharmatrading.com/dyes/dharma-fiber-reactive-procion-dyes.html CO : Grateful Dyes : www.grateful-dyes.com/ CO : CO Wholesale Dye Corp. : www.bulkdye.com NC : Custom Colors Inc. : www.customcoloursinc.com/ MA : Pro-Chemical and Dye : prochemicalanddye.net/ MO : Dyespin : www.dyespin.com

[@spiderswebb5724]

Thank you for the information on soda ash. I really appreciate it

[@MrTieDye]

You are so welcome

[@globalnomadswithanewf5754]

"You want to be fast acting with this so you don't get any chunks if you let it rest". Can confirm! I used soda ash for the first time yesterday before seeing this video! LOL

[@MrTieDye]

LOL... yep only takes one time :-)

[@kylemessicktiedyecollector5690]

I Searched for Baking Soda to mix it into soda ash that I saw on the Walmart app..... so I just want to offer to take One of Soda. Baking soda with a bag to poor just one in a time.

[@solocontinuity]

@@kylemessicktiedyecollector5690 I don't understand what you are trying to say here, could you try again?

[@andersonbridgelal8980]

Thank you for sharing this! I will try it! Blessings

[@MrTieDye]

you are welcome, I am glad to be of help

[@mikeodilison]

Thanks problem solved

[@cookieumbriaco2009]

I presoak every time I tie dye with the "one step"kits and the colors are awesome

[@MrTieDye]

Awesome!!

[@tinkabella2481]

who doesn't 👀👀 love Mr Tie Dye!!! 😍😍

[@MrTieDye]

✌🏻💚🙏🌈🤗

[@allonesame6467]

Wonderful! Thank You!

[@MrTieDye]

you are welcome

[@jacquelinebobcombe1865]

Thanks very much, this is very helpful, you have a new subscriber Stay safe

[@ruthrecord6430]

I love your videos

[@babygirlb3kah]

Thank you for this.

[@MrTieDye]

you are welcome

[@pouponcrazycat5987]

Love u and ur colors

[@MrTieDye]

thank you :)

[@Susan-oe1ht]

Great tips thank u

[@MrTieDye]

You are so welcome!

[@user-ix1xh9jd6g]

It is very interesting 🎉.

[@OtterSC2]

It might be cheaper from a pool store if buying bulk but here in Australia you can get soda ash from supermarkets. Its sold as "washing soda", it might be easy to get "washing soda" other places just make sure its sodium carbonate. I really like the plastic jug method it makes it easy to keep the right ratio and not make up more soda ash solution than you need. One note from my experience of just making up a batch, be careful if you have cuts on your hands/fingers. The soda ash solution hurts almost as much as lemon juice would, its quite strong.

[@MrTieDye]

thank you for your comments ... I know these help other people who are looking for answers

[@Monsterkey]

I was going to say the same thing about the laundry soda. Its pretty cheap for a box

[@kothestigma476]

Your the best!!

[@MrTieDye]

thank you, I am just doing my part :-)

[@user-bk5cu8ii2m]

Beautiful professional

[@MrTieDye]

thank you

[@faeangel20]

Thank you Mr tie dye ^-^

[@MrTieDye]

you are welcome

[@pamelamorris3148]

You can also take the wet tees and lay them amoung 2 dry towels to absorb much of the excess water. If you can't use your washing machine because of filling up with water or spraying water on your clothing, or a front loader won't allow you to spin without water spray.

[@MrTieDye]

Thank you for adding this tip in here, I love when people help other people ❤️✌🏻🙏

[@elizabethwood8467]

Thank you for making this video! I am a new tie dyer and need all the help I can get.😁

[@MrTieDye]

You are so welcome! ... I love helping other have success with this art. Just in case, here is my Beginner's Playlist : kzbin.info/aero/PLMEtBqB2BzuquDrHsqxbv8LdFkaIyy3wo

[@milest6111]

Much Gratitude

[@MrTieDye]

you are welcome 🙏

[@custom_name854]

Love how god is mentioned in the credits at "Lights"

[@MrTieDye]

✌🏻🌈❤️🙏 Thank you!!

[@ruwandikaweerawickram4646]

Thank you 🌷

[@MrTieDye]

you are welcome

[@lil.sp00ntheproffit41]

You’re the man

[@MrTieDye]

✌️

[@gresank3685]

Hello, I am from Mexico, I love what you do and I have tried to do it, but where do you buy your colorants to dye?

[@aliciaamandavalenti]

I’m here for the credits 😂

[@MrTieDye]

😂🥳🙏✌🏻

[@tukanavucago9509]

Thank you...

[@MrTieDye]

You're welcome!

[@rebeccahall8436]

Thank you for all your instructional videos! I love tie dyeing and have watched most of your videos at least once. I am a very impatient person and I have learned to follow your instructions, despite my impulses! And, my results continue to improve when I am patient and follow all the steps you recommend!! How many tshirts should I soak in 1 gallon of water and 1 cup of soda ash?? Thank you for your time!!

[@MrTieDye]

You are welcome, I love this art and I love to help others have fun and success with it as for the soda ash, you can soak as many as will fit in the basin... soda ash does not go bad, so you can soak tees, wring out the excess back into the basin and just keep using it, when the soda sh gets low, just make more and add it in ✌🏻

[@philiphackett5059]

I have always loved tie dye shirts and always wanted to try doing it myself,so when my son went to a tie dye party I tried it and loved it. So I bought a 1 step kit am going to tie dye some maskes and shirts next week on my vacation. I love you videos they are very informative. Any suggestions for a beginner?

[@MrTieDye]

That is awesome! as for the one step kits, they already have soda ash mixed in with the dyes, so as soon as you add water, they are active, SO, to get the best colors, you want to tie up all of the tees before you mix the dyes ... oh and if you have soda ash, you will get better colors if you do a pre soak .... then tie them up, mix your dyes and the get to adding the colors, you can open the creases of the tees to check for white areas and then batch them for 24 - 48 hours in a bag or a tub with a lid so the stay wet... this is when the dyes bond with the cotton fibers (oh and use 100% cotton tees) here is my beginner's play list that will give you more tips and tricks .... kzbin.info/aero/PLMEtBqB2BzuquDrHsqxbv8LdFkaIyy3wo have fun creating and Welcome to the Wonderful World of Tie-Dye

[@dianaj1524]

The one step kits like Tulip have baking soda in them instead of soda ash. Thats the reason the results can be faded since baking soda doesn’t raise the ph high enough to fix the dye. I always add soda ash to the bottles or soda soak if I have to use a one step kit

[@MrTieDye]

thank you for the info

[@msbooker6003]

#NEWSUBBIE .... Thank you so much for your easy to understand instructions 👏👏💯💙!! Gna make me and my daughter a few t-shirts 👕

[@MrTieDye]

You are so welcome, and thank you for subbing ... have fun creating!!

[@kylemessicktiedyecollector5690]

I like how it makes with Black Phoenix Tie Dye. Or in the other Resorting

[@MrTieDye]

thank you

[@mahmoudlover1]

Thanks for your help , I'm going to print wool fabric by digital print using REACTIVE ink , and then steaming process , I want to try to used soda ash on the fabric before printing , do you think this will give good fixing and bright colors ?

[@MrTieDye]

you are welcome.... I do not know much about dyeing wool, but I did look into it a while back and from what i read, soda ash should not be used on wool... so you may look into it some to make sure you use the right thing... I know when I dye silk, I soak in white vinegar instead of soda ash.... but I never did figure out how or what to do with wool ... I wish you success.

[@sharzanco]

Very useful, can i use Suda ash for dye my Tshirt , not tie dye , i had bad experience, i dye my T shirt i used vinegar to make color stay , but the color still comes out please advice ! like following from Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦

[@Miranda.Powers]

Is it bad that I have googled how to make soda ash from baking soda but knew you going to make a video on soda ash, so I waited for it?😁😁 Thank you for answering my questions on it being the same when baked 😊 (did that make any sense?😆)

[@kathleen9750]

I always make my own. It's cheaper

[@MrTieDye]

yes that made sense and no it is not bad... I love to inspire people to learn and explore

[@TheUnholyPosole]

Question: Have you ever used caustic soda to tie dye, instead of soda ash?

[@stitchlightly5995]

Thank you so much for all this info! Will the soda ash still work if the item has been air dryed? I do resist dyes and would like to use procions, but am wondering if I can soak in soda ash, line dry, and then add the resist. Will it work the same? Great channel! Really appreciate it!!

[@MrTieDye]

you are welcome.... And Yes the soda ash will work wet of dry ... there are times when I do 'dye painting' ... I tie-dye the tee and leave a white space... batch, wash, dry..... then I will spray the white spot with soda sh and then let it dry completely.... then I paint with dye ..... OR, I will fold a soaked tee, tie with sinew, let it dry completely and then dye it ... soda ash is good until it is washed away ✌🏻

[@Kandicookheller]

Wonderful video and I'm so grateful. I have a question about soda ash if I want to try Procion dyes for batiking on Ginwashi Rice paper. I was using watercolors but would like to try something more vibrant. Do you think I would need a little soda ash solution added to my small containers of dye before I paint the dyes onto the rice paper? Would it be needed at all?

[@MrTieDye]

Thank you and no, I do not think the soda ash would be needed for paper

[@sabrinabarnett9816]

Can you use colored flannels or tee shirts to soak in soda ash

[@blankmandastankman]

This video is extremely interesting. Now, around the 6:00 mark u began to bring up PH levels to determine satisfactory level mixtures. My question about that is, do u have any idea if using alkaline/ionized water that already are made with higher ph levels? Do u think this would improve the outcome? Thanks for ur videos they are awesome btw. How u created a heart tie dye is pretty cool and eventually I’m going to try to create multiple little tie dye heart design prints all over a tee to see what that’s like

[@MrTieDye]

thank you... and I am not sure about the alkaline/ionized water and how it would affect the pH as I have not used it before... I just know from what i have read on the dharma site as well as others that the optimum pH for tie-dye is between 10.6 - 11.0 and once cup of soda ash in regular water works perfect .... way back in the day I bought the test stripes to check on my soda ash water ... same stripes I used in the video, but they were just a little old so the reading were a bit high, but they were all the same .... and yes I have always loved to create images with tie dye and the heart is one of the first ones i made ,,, have fun exploring and trying new designs :-)

[@c.c.9401]

Hello MrTieDye! Quick question. If I use the bucket method could I have more than 1 shirt sitting in there soaking up the soda ash? After the 20 minute interval, I wring the shirt out and don’t apply the dye until the shirt gets damp? I just bought a bunch of dharma dye and can’t wait to get started. Cheers!

[@MrTieDye]

yes you can soak as many that will fit in your bucket, just make sure they are all covered with soda ash .... and then I wring out the excess and I use my washer to 'spin' out more of the soda ash... (the main thing with this method is to make sure your washer does not spray water during the spin cycle and if it does, then set it to half way through the cycle.... the water will dilute the soda ash and that will affect how the dyes work) this is my preferred method for folding as the tee folds easier than when it is dry... and it also take the dye good... but if they are too wet to start, then there is a possibility of having white in the tee as the tee can only hold so much liquid ... have fun and I wish you success!!

[@cortneyantonson4697]

Seriously, your videos are the only ones I watch when it comes to tie dying!!! Question though, you said that using Baking Soda isn't really the one you want to use to make it so I don't want to make too much of it. If I only make 1 cup of it do I put it in the oven for half the time or would you suggest to still bake it for an hour? Not sure if I'm going to ruin it or not if I bake it for too long.

[@MrTieDye]

thank you and you are welcome ... as for making soda ash ... yes you use baking soda and I would still heat for the full time like I show in the video ... I am not sure about my comment, but it was probably in reference to me preferring to use already made soda ash ... I can buy it at a local pool supply store ... 50lbs for $35 .... that is more convenient than making my own..... BUT, if you do not have access to soda ash, then yes using Baking Soda to make your own is a great thing about this art... lots of options ... I hope that made sense ✌🏻🙏🌈

[@cortneyantonson4697]

@@MrTieDye It does make sense! Thank you for replying so quick!!

[@MrTOMVIDAL]

Hey, thanks so much for the helpful videos! If I have soaked my fabric and it has dried in the meantime (I am making an intricate design on my tapestry and tyeing it a little bit each day), Should i resoak or at least wet it before adding the dye? Or is it fine if the fabric is dry when pouring on the dye? Thanks!

[@MrTieDye]

you are welcome.... and yes you can dye it dry, but sometimes the dye will want to roll around or off the tap when it is dry, if this is the case, then what I do is spray the tapestry lightly with soda ash... I just put some in a spray bottle

[@MrTOMVIDAL]

@@MrTieDye great! Thanks!!

[@maxxinemeyer5773]

Learn a lot from your videos , great details , perfect speed . Just order dharma products ... where do you buy your tshirts from ? There are so many different bulk sites but looking to find the best .

[@MrTieDye]

I am glad you are finding my videos to be helpful.... as for tees, I buy mine wholesale from sanmar.com ... but I know a lot of dyers buy from jiffyshirts.com or alldayshirts.com and I have also heard of alphabroder.com ... I am not sure which is the best since I do most all of my buying wholesale

[@maxxinemeyer5773]

MrTieDye yes I am looking for wholesale , I did order from shirtwholesaler to see how they are and will try one of those sites next . Thank you !

[@richamaurya690]

Thank you so much for your videos!! Can I use washing soda in the place of soda ash ?

[@MrTieDye]

you are welcome and yes you can, just check the ingredients to make sure it says 100% soda ash or Sodium Carbonate .... but I have seen many dyers who use Arm & Hammer Washing Soda in place of soda ash

[@richamaurya690]

@@MrTieDye Thank you so much for your reply. Once we used warm water to make soda ask solution, can we use the the solution again or we have to heat it before every use?

[@bisoyetowolawi7375]

Thank you for this training. I need to ask this question. Is not necessary i add sulphate to dyes before dying a clothe?

[@MrTieDye]

you are welcome... and I do not use a sulphate as these are fiber reactive Procion dyes, they just need the soda ash, which raises the pH and causes the dye to bond.... www.dharmatrading.com/dyes/dharma-fiber-reactive-procion-dyes.html But, if you are using natural dyes, then yes you need a sulphate or mordant ... but I have not used them, so I do not know that process, but dharma does carry natural dyes and mordants so they may have info as well on the process

[@bisoyetowolawi7375]

Thank you for this information. I really appreciate.

[@donnaviolette6102]

Hi, love your video's,, I am a newbie, My question is after you die your shirts and let them set for 24hrs or more you than rince them, after that can you wash them all together or do I have to wash 1 at a time?

[@MrTieDye]

Thank you and welcome.... yes I leave mine to batch for 24-48 hours and then I rinse and wash them all together, here is my process : kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmGwkKGpqbCeoK8

[@wasanawijewardana4309]

Please te me how to do batik.your explaining is very understanding.thank you

[@MrTieDye]

I have not done batik myself yet... but I would soak the fabric in soda ash, spin out the excess and then hang it to dry completely ... and then add your wax and then submerge in dye

[@marquanmikle6611]

sorry if this has already been asked but can i let a shirt line dry completely after a soda ash soak before dyeing it?

[@MrTieDye]

yes you can ... one thing to take note of, if the dye seem to roll off the tee instead of soak in, then you can lightly spray the tee with soda ash water and this will break surface tension and help the dyes to soak in

[@VesscaP]

I've made my own quit a lot an it works fine . I also use washing soda that says its sodium carbonate

[@MrTieDye]

this was my first time making it... I just wanted to let people know about all of the options as I get a lot of questions ... thank you

[@Bianca-yo3ud]

Hi Mr Tie Dye, I absolutely love your tutorials, you are really talented and a great teacher. Is your gallon converted to litres, 4.5l? Tia

[@MrTieDye]

thank you, I am glad to be of help to you .... and I use the US gallon, so when I convert, it is 3.78 liters

[@Bianca-yo3ud]

@@MrTieDye Thank you so so much!! I appreciate your response

[@destinybrooks4667]

What would you do if the PH was lower than what you need? Also what test strips are you using and where did you buy it?

[@MrTieDye]

I would add more soda ash powder and blend or shake some more. And I bought these from dharma several years ago, I think they are a bit old and not completely accurate, but I have tested my soda ash from dharma enough to know that one cup works great for one gallon of water, so when all three test about the same, I knew the other two were the same as the dharma soda ash You can probably buy the pH test stripes in other places, just make sure they go up to at least 11 or 12 as some stripes are for other things and only go to 7

[@sharonmcconnell1306]

So you soak your item in soda ash before AND after you dye it? Also, once the fabric is soaked, does it need to be dyed in a certain time frame or can you soak a bunch, let it dry and then use it whenever you do a dye session?

[@solocontinuity]

Great Question - I'd like to hear the answer to this. About to go check out the videos for beginners.

[@billyhuestiedye]

Good morning Sir! can hydroponic pH buffering solution be used in place of soda ash if i get the pH in the right range?

[@MrTieDye]

I do not know for sure, but I think it will work... we use soda ash to raise the pH level to 10.6 - 11.0 ..... so maybe try a tee and see how it goes ... also, you might look on the tie-dye pages as there are some dyers who know the chemical side better than I do, most of my learning is from direct experimentation .... but I have only used soda ash for mine

[@richamaurya690]

Once we use warm water to make soda ask solution, can we use the solution again or we have to heat it before every use?

[@MrTieDye]

you can just use it at room temp, I mix mine with hot water because it seems to help it dissolve faster .... but you can just keep re suing the soda ash .... and when it gets low, just make more and add it in with the rest

[@richamaurya690]

@@MrTieDye Thank you :)

[@bbx6969]

Hello Mr. T! How have you been doing? Are making your own soda ash these days? I'm going to get back into tie dye here in the next couple weeks. Haven't been doing it since maybe end of 2018. For shoes, do you wash them first? I usually wash the other clothing but don't dry it. Will that throw off the ph balance?

[@MrTieDye]

I am doing okay, been a rough year so I have not been doing much tie-dye myself ... and I only made that one batch of soda ash for the purpose of the video ... I buy my soda ash locally at a pool supply store ... 50lb for $35 as for the shoes, Yes I do a pre wash in hot water and a bit of synthrapol soap, here is a video to show how I prep and dye them : kzbin.info/www/bejne/nne6ZJJnja56o7M and I just Todd my tees into the soda ash right from the washer, they are a bit damp, but not enough to throw off the pH Have fun getting back into tie-dye and I wish you success!! ✌🏻

[@samanthanicholson9015]

So does it go in oven for an hour?

[@carmenjohnson8826]

In one of the videos they talk about salt to brighten the colors. When is this used.? I know about the soda ash, bit I was curious about the salt, how u would mix it, use it and apply it. Also any particular kind if salt

[@MrTieDye]

Yes, I sometimes will add the salt into my dyes when I mix them ... so for 16 oz of warm water, I add 1-2tbsp of salt and then 5-6tsp of dye and then I blend it until all is dissolved .... blacks and turquoise can be improved some with salt .... it is used in low water immersion dyeing to help 'push' the dye out of the water and into the fabric .... and yes I think any salt will work, but Glauber's Salt is what is recommended .... you can buy it from dharma, but I buy mine on Amazon : amzn.to/3woVkbg .... if you use this link, then I receive credit 😉

[@mayarao3369]

Hi awesome video just wondering if once you have soaked a shirt in soda ash can you leave it and tie dye it say 3 days later or do you have to do it right away?

[@MrTieDye]

Yes you can .... I have a tub with a lid that store my soaked tees in so they stay damp and have some in there for a few weeks

[@mutibruce]

It will most definitely be fine. The longest I’ve soaked one is 4 months and turned out just like one I soaked for 30 minutes.

[@solocontinuity]

@@MrTieDye - do you have to worry about the wet shirts getting moldy?

[@bethtuten9378]

I live in a rural area, so I don't know what the price would be for the big buckets of soda ash, but for my money, it's cheapest to buy the 55 oz box in the laundry section at WM or on Amazon Prime. The couple times I checked, there was only 1-2 cent difference in the price per box. I also checked Amazon for best price, and the ~3+ lb box was the same price per pound as the big buckets labeled for pool. I don't do a lot of dyeing, so I just get the box. Side note: the hardened soda ash will eventually - over several days - dissolve into the water on its own, without the assistance of a hammer.

[@MrTieDye]

that sounds great... thank you for sharing .... oh and I had one lump that never did dissolve... I just tossed the jug out ;-)

[@anonnnnnsh]

I believe you can get it much cheaper at a pool supply store but you have to buy it in large amounts.

[@nubealaniz614]

I have a lot of shirts that I'm going to tie dye and I have dark colored shirts and white shirts if I put in all the shirts at the same time in the soda ash will it affect the white shirts from the dark colored shirts

[@MrTieDye]

it is possible that some color may leach out of the already dyed tees, so I soak mine separately just in case

[@tonycaban5039]

Do You always test the PH of Your solution after You mix it? Or is that not necessary -Thank You

[@MrTieDye]

at this point, no I do not test it.... but in the beginning I did test a couple times to make sure I was in the zone... one cup to one gallon seems to work perfect

[@yosangiedelacruz6484]

Hi I have been obsessed with tie dying lately and just discovered Procion dyes but regarding the soda ash can you make a soda ash solution and just spray it on the shirt without soaking it? Or adding the soda ash powder directly in the dye? Or is the soak method the only way to efficiently get the best results?

[@MrTieDye]

that is awesome and welcome to my channel... as for soda ash ... it is what activates the Procion dyes and causes them to bond with the cotton fibers So, yes you can spray with tee with soda ash instead of soaking it, but all of the cotton fibers may not get coated this way so it will work, but may not provide the darker colors ... you can certainly try it and see if you like the results As for adding the soda ash directly to the dyes, yes you can do this, but the dye will need to be used the same day as they will be active as soon as you add water to the dye and soda ash some of the other ways I have done it is to get the tee wet with plain water and tie it up and then soak in soda ash... or tie it and dye it and then squirts it with soda ash top and bottom, for this method, I make sure to set the tees on a rack to batch so the excess liquid can drip out.... as long as you have soda ash, cotton and dye all together before you batch, you are good to go... but the results will vary with each method, so maybe try it in different ways and see which way you like ... I hope this helps... have fun exploring!!

[@ameliayager975]

I have been using Rit dye for my tie dyes and have had some issues with fading and bleeding. Would soaking in soda ash instead of plain water before dying help with these issues? Have any advice? Thank you so much!

[@MrTieDye]

I have not used Rit before so I cannot speak to that, but you can try it and see if it changes anything ... but mostly I think the soda ash work with the fiber reactive dyes ... you can search their site and see if they have any tips for better colors .... and if they recommend a length of time for the dyes to set up, maybe try leaving for longer.... or mixing the dyes stronger but what I usually do is to recommend people switch to a better dye if they want to improve their results ... I have been using the same dyes for 20 years I use Fiber Reactive Procion Dyes. I buy most of mine from Dharma Trading Co. www.dharmatrading.com/dyes/dharma-fiber-reactive-procion-dyes.html I have also purchased the same kind of dyes from Custom Colours in NC and Grateful Dye in CO. Here is a video on how to mix the dyes: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aXfNY2tviZt1jMk

[@michelewalburn4376]

I accidentally left song some tye dyed shirts in the dye for nearly a week. My daughter and niece did it with their daughters then brought them home and left them for me to finish. I had agreed to because school was just starting abc my daughter and the girls were very busy. Well about a week later I found them in the bag, wrapped in plastic. Wow. They were the best I've ever seen from the kits. Maybe if you can't find anything on their website about the color you could just forget about them for awhile. Lol. It truly was accidental. We were just crazy busy. One of the girls asked if she could wear her new tye dye shirt to school the night before the first day and that is when I remembered them. They're beautiful though. They truly are.

[@BananaMana69]

Hello Mr. Tie Dye I see some other people say to use salt with the pre soak do you ever do that?

[@MrTieDye]

I do not, but I think it has to do with the kind of dyes you use... I work with Procion Fiber Reactive Dyes and the soda ash raises the pH level of the cotton fibers and causes a chemical bond between the dye and the cotton fibers .... I have heard of using salt, but I am not sure what kind of dyes they were using ✌🏻

[@Bonbon54220]

Is there anything you can add to the dye to make it last a few days in a bottle? Like can you preserve it for at least a couple days? Or do you always have to use every single drop? Thank you.

[@dianaj1524]

MissB 55 Dye will last a few days or longer in a bottle at room temperature or much longer in a refrigerator. Some colors fade faster. It only has to be used right away if there is soda ash or baking soda in the bottle like in a one step kit.

[@MrTieDye]

the Procion dye will last 2-3 weeks at room temp and even longer if you have a fridge to store them in... the main thing with dyes needing to be used all in the same day is the 'One Step Kits' .... most times that means the soda ash has been added to the dye powder, so as soon as you add water, then the dyes are active and need to be used within a few hours or they start to lose the strength ..... so buying the Procion dyes and doing a pre soak in soda ash is much better than the kits from the store

[@catherineraley8588]

i need to know how to tye dye a niki hoody thats made from a polyester/spandex blend

[@lauraperoutka5279]

My soda ash with new test straps are testing at 12...is that ok? What should I do if it tests too high or too low?

[@MrTieDye]

yes that should be fine .... in what I have read, 10.6 - 11.0 is optimum, but a little high is not bad.... if it were higher than 13 then I would try diluting it some

[@mettlehed76]

Maybe this is answered already, but curious if there are any hazards to oven baking baking soda to render my own soda ash?

[@MrTieDye]

I am not aware of any, this is the site I got my info from, but I do see I used a cookie sheet with tin foil, and they recommend a glass baking dish ..... www.pburch.net/dyeing/FAQ/bakingsoda.shtml

[@ahmadasyraf9561]

Hello Mr, why you separate 2 t-shirts while soaking ? can i just mix them up ? since i wanted to do a lot of tie dye t-shirts at once. Please answer 🙏🏻

[@MrTieDye]

yes you can soak them all together... the only reason I did them separate is I was doing a test with two different soda ashes as well as one that I made myself ..... but normally, ALL of my tees go in together to soak, I apologize for the confusion

[@russellstrauss]

Will it cause problems if your ash-soaked and spin shirts dry before you dye them?

[@MrTieDye]

no it is not ... if I tie up mandalas that have lots of layers of fabric in them, I will let them dry completely before I dye them, this will assist in saturation of the deeper layers as the liquid will wick through the fabric if it is dry BUT, one thing, sometimes the dye will roll off the dry fabric rather than soak in, if this happens, then I use a spray bottle and lightly spray the tee/tap with soda ash water... then the dye should soak in If I do want to keep them damp for longer period of time, I store them in a tub with a lid to keep them damp ✌🏻

[@susanmoody4529]

Should my shirts be washed and air dried before soaking them in soda ash? Is the soda ash already mixed into the colors when it is packaged like this? Thank you!

[@MrTieDye]

doing a pre wash is recommended just in case there is a treatment of some sort added at the factory that may interfere with the dyes bonding... but they can be spun out and then tossed right into the soda ash As for soda ash, yes some of the one step kits you buy in the store have soda ash in with the dye powders, so as soon as you add water, they dyes are active, for this reason, I recommend waiting until you have your tees tied up before you mix your dyes to get the best colors.... ALSO, if you have soda ash, you may get better colors if you still do a soak in soda ash even if there is soda ash in the dyes ... and then the kits recommend 6-8 hours for batch time, I still recommend 24 hours minimum, but I leave mine for 48 hours to give the dyes more time to bond. these dyes will not last long so try to use them up in one dye session. BUT, if you buy Fiber reactive Procion dyes from Dharma or other places like Custom Colours or Grateful Dyes, then they are just dye powder and will last much longer, I have mine around for 2-3 weeks before I notice a difference in the colors, and if you have a spare fridge to store them in, they will last even longer. AND, for these you need to soak in soda ash before you tie, or you can tie first and then soak... OR you can even tie them, dye them and then squirt soda sh on before you batch. I hope this answered your question.

[@susanmoody4529]

MrTieDye Thank you very much!

[@janetshp3679]

Hi Mr. Tie Dye! I’ve been dyeing for a while traditionally with liquid dye, but recently I’ve taken up ice dyeing. I’ve watched a lot of your videos, and I could have sworn in one of them you said that soda ash in the dye bottle could potentially weaken the colors. So I’ve always soaked my shirts before putting the powder on for ice dye. However, I’ve seen other people sprinkle the soda ash on top of the ice when ice dying. It seems wasteful to me because it seems like that would just turn into solids on top of the shirt and never actually make it into the shirt. I know that you’re putting a boat load more water on with ice dyeing, but I still feel good about putting them on a soda ashed shirt. What’s your take on that? Thanks!!

[@MrTieDye]

Hello Janet ... most of my experience has been with liquid dyeing ... and I am not sure what I said in the video you mention about the soda ash weakening the colors ... It was probably about soda ash mixed in with liquid dyes... it activates the dyes ... once the dyes are active, they should be used quickly as the longer they sit, the weaker color you will get from them .... it is not about soda ash deteriorating the dyes, but the activating of them... once they are activated, they will try to bond, but if there is not cotton fibers or other natural fibers around, they have nothing to bond to .... so, like the 'One Step Kits' that are sold in stores, most of these have soda sh mixed in with the dye powders and this is fine, but once water is added to the bottles, the dyes are active ... I recommend to people using those kits to get all of their tees tied and ready, then mix the dyes and use it right away for best colors. SO, now onto Ice Dyeing ... the soda sh does dissolve as the ice melts so this will add soda ash to the dyes, but they are going right into the tees and bonding with the cotton fibers ... the way I have been doing my ice dyes are the same way I have been doing HWI... I mix 2tsp of dye powder in with 1/4 - 1/3 cup of soda ash... then I sprinkle that onto my tees and then I add the ice ... I know there are many ways to do Ice Dyeing, some work better than others and some give different results than other methods ... experiment and find which ays you like... OR... ask questions on the FB Ice Dyeing page as they have played with it much more than I have ... more of my expertise is around liquid dyeing Here is a link to the Ice Dye page on FB : facebook.com/groups/822773287815267

[@janetshp3679]

Thank you so much!!

[@kylemessicktiedyecollector5690]

Where did you get that Blender from?.

[@MrTieDye]

I bought mine from Amazon, but the price has gone up a lot lately ✌🏻

[@dmv1408]

So if I do the baking soda method I pretty much need to use that mixture then right? Versus saving the solution as u would with soda ash..I’m guessing the baking soda is ready because it’s heat activated and wouldn’t save in the water or by itself?

[@MrTieDye]

As far as I know, once you convert the baking soda to soda ash by heating it, then it can then be saved and used as soda ash .... and I just keep making more as mine runs low and I add it in with the rest

[@bernadettegrisham676]

Will soda ash help If I'm doing tie dyed shirts with acrylic paint?

[@MrTieDye]

I am not positive as I have not used them myself, BUT, I do not think you will need soda ash for that... the soda sh is what activates the fiber reactive dyes and causes a chemical reaction between the cotton fiber and the dye particle to form a permanent bond Acrylic paint does not need to be activated... I have heard of people thinning it some and using it like dye, you may search out tie-dye with Acrylic paints and see what you find 🥳✌🏻 have fun and I wish you success!!

[@kerzilin]

You said you save the ash mix, can you save the mixture if it has soaked an undyed but cleaned piece?

[@MrTieDye]

yes I save the soda ash mix and just make more when it gets low.... and if I am going to re dye a tee, I will soak it in a separate bucket as some dye can leach out of a tie-dye tee when re soaked

[@samanthanicholson9015]

How do you wash and set your colors after they are dyed, also like when they get color do you put into a bag and let sit for 8 hours or let dry and process how do you do your shirts? Thanks 😊

[@MrTieDye]

After dyeing, I batch my dyes for 48 hours in a tub with a lid to keep the dyes wet while they batch... if they dry out, then the dyes are no longer active. after they have batch for 48 hours, I then rinse in the sink in cold water while still tied, this rinses away the soda ash ..... then I turn the water up to warm and continue to rinse.... here is my whole process : kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmGwkKGpqbCeoK8

[@kylemessicktiedyecollector5690]

Did you mix it up with Bluebird into Lemon Yellow.

[@MrTieDye]

I have not mixed those two yet, but I will eventually ... sometimes I will leave the green out when I make a rainbow on a tee and just let the blue and yellow mix 😉

[@juvdavid]

How much time does it take to soak the shirt before (damp) drying it and add dye? And can you keep and re-use the soda ash mixture that you use in soaking the first batch of the shirt? Thank you 😊

[@MrTieDye]

I soak mine for 20 minutes and just make sure they are saturated well when I take them out of the bucket... and yes, the soda ash is good to keep and re use... I just keep making more and adding it to the tub when it get low

[@juvdavid]

@@MrTieDye thank you 😊

[@ntptingz1864]

Will soda ash enhance the effect of liquid dyes or does it only work for the powdered ones?

[@MrTieDye]

Soda Ash is what activates the Fiber Reactive Procion dyes whether you mix them into liquid form or use them as powders for ice dyes ... so it is needed

[@chriissteen]

@@MrTieDye I got impatient for my Procion dye to arrive and used Rit liquid.I did the soda ash thinking Ahhh Rit dye will work if I use this. I mixed it extra strong with hot water so I wouldn't have to do it over the stove. Big disaster. I know some people use it for tye die. Not sure how the do very many colors.

[@apriljackson8038]

Can i use the jug of Soda ash to fill dye bottle with powder to liquid. I do understand that the shelf life will be short.

[@MrTieDye]

I do not see why not, but like you said, the life of the dyes will be short, so use them as soon as you mix them

[@georgiastryffeler4301]

I just bought a bottle of MAXTITE SODA ASK LITE , my question is it the same thing as the soda ash used for soaking t-shirt before dying my T-shirts?

[@MrTieDye]

I looked it up and found this : www.amazon.com/Soda-Ash-Lite-lbs-Resealable/dp/B09967K49P ......... Soda Ash is Sodium Carbonate and it raises the pH to cause the dyes to activate and bond with the cotton fibers.... so yes this will work ... but I think you could find it cheaper .... dharma sells 5lb bags for $5.95 plus shipping : www.dharmatrading.com/chemicals/soda-ash-fixer.html many people find pH Up in local stores and I buy my soda ash (Sodium Carbonate) from a pool supply store here in town, I get a 50lb bag for $35.00

[@georgiastryffeler4301]

@@MrTieDye you are so helpful I really appreciate your help. And all your videos.. my husband is always asking me what I am watching in the evening while he is watching TV .. I tell him Mr tie dye he’s amazing and I love watching him. I think he gets a little jealous. LOL.. but he wears the t-shirts I make for him. I found a Pink Floyd long sleeve white t-shirt I dye.. it turned out awesome if I say so myself, he gets a lot of compliments on it.. he tell everyone that his wife made it🤘✌️

[@teehee401]

How long does the soda ash water last after you mix it and seal it in a jug?

[@MrTieDye]

IMO it does not go bad ... I just keep using the same soda ash to soak my tees in and when it runs low, I just mix more and add it in with the rest ... that being said, I cannot speak to a jug that has been mixed and left to sit for years ... my opinion above is for when you are using it ✌🏻

[@joel3001]

Does Soda Ash help keep dye on the shirt?

[@MrTieDye]

Yes, soda ash is what activates the Fiber Reactive Procion dyes... so without it, most of the dye would just be washed away.... with the soda ash, the dye forms a chemical bond with the cotton fibers and becomes part of the fabric

[@curtnew2638]

What are the test strips called?

[@kothestigma476]

Wait you resoak some shirts that have already been dyed in soda ash again??

[@kathleen9750]

Yes. But only to re-dye and add more color. I've done it a lot lol. You can spiral black over it or really any color. It's pretty cool.

[@MrTieDye]

yes, when I do an over dye or re dye a tee that I either just want to add more color to, I could not get the thing folded and dyed all at one time , or if I did not like how it came out, I can over dye it ..... kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYGskGVprJt9obs

[@MrTieDye]

thank you

[@kafu101]

Hi! Maybe a noob question but I am just about to start my Tie Dye journey. Is it ok to start dyeing right after I squeeze my shirts from soda ash water? Unfortunately I don't have dryer at home. Thanks for this video and greetings from Poland!

[@MrTieDye]

Yes, absolutely... I would try to squeeze out as much as possible, if they are too wet, it can affect the dye saturation (it may leave more white spots) squeeze them out, tie them up and then you can go right to dyeing... have fun!!