Tie Dye Basics: How To Mix A Soda Ash Solution For Tie Dyeing

In this tutorial I show and explain how to mix a soda ash solution for tie dyeing.
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[@timdavis9031]

Thank you Angie that’s a very helpful video. I really appreciate when you professionals do these instructional videos on how to mix chemicals and dyes etc. for us. It is really a big help and much appreciated. Have a great holiday!

[@FunEndeavors]

Thank you Tim, I'm glad you liked it! I hope you have a great holiday too! 🙂

[@marthamiller-plumb1059]

Well explained. Thanks so much. 😃

[@FunEndeavors]

Thank you - I'm glad you liked it! 🙂

[@tinadoyle6965]

You do the best work on all of your videos! What happens if you dont use the soda ash? Is it a bonding agent and the ink will fade really bad? Will it not take? I'm curious.. thank you

[@FunEndeavors]

Thank you - I'm glad you like the videos! Soda ash raises the pH and bonds the dye to the fabric. If you don't use it, the dye will wash out of the shirt.

[@lindaryan6464]

I enjoy your great tutorials. I'm trying to figure out how to do the rounded loopy design from Ithaca tie dye. They don't have any tutorials. Have you had any experience trying these types of designs.

[@FunEndeavors]

Thank you! I'm not exactly sure what design you are describing. Their work is beautiful though. Have you tried reaching out to them to ask for suggestions? Some tie dyers aren't willing to share, but others are very happy to share their knowledge.

[@Linneydenise]

Thank you Angie. Can I add salt and distilled vinegar to this solution? If so, how much? I read online it makes colors brighter, but I dont know. I am new and prepping my first shirt to tie dye at this writing. Thank you

[@Linneydenise]

Oh, the colors I am using are bright colors like orange, yellow, turquiose, green, etc...dharma procion dye fibers

[@FunEndeavors]

No, you don't to add vinegar to this solution. A soda ash solution should be a pH of 10.5 - 11, so it will be alkaline. Adding vinegar to the solution would neutralize it since vinegar is acidic. I use fiber reactive dyes and they require the raised pH to bond properly with the fabric. The fiber reactive dye I use doesn't require salt either. If you'd like to add it though, you would add it to the dye. To get the colors to be bright the dye really needs to be processed in the shirt in a really warm space (over 70 degrees Fahrenheit) for at least 24 hours. Turquoise in particular likes it really warm.

[@jpmitchell1157]

Can you use the Arm & Hammer Super washing Soda, you can buy in the box at Walmart? If so, what ratio?

[@FunEndeavors]

Yes, you can. I personally haven't used it, but I believe it is 100% sodium carbonate. Therefore, I would use 1 cup into 1 gallon of water.

[@clmclachlan]

I make my own washing soda because here in Europe soda ash is hard to come by and relatively expensive. It's very easy. Empty 1Kg baking soda into a shallow glass or metal baking dish. Heat at 400F or 200C for one hour. Allow to cool. Voila. 1Kg Soda ash. I use it in every laundry - it's a champ for removing sweat, sweat stains and odors which are unavoidable outcomes of living in southern Europe.

[@FunEndeavors]

That's great! I had no idea that it was difficult to find in Europe. I know that there are some tie dye items that we use in the US that are more difficult to find other countries, but I didn't realize that soda ash was one of them. Making your own is a great solution.

[@Hogle2doj]

Do you wash your shirts before starting the tiedye process or just take them off the hanger from the store and start with the soda ash steep?

[@FunEndeavors]

I prewash everything in hot water and a little bit of Dharma's Textile Detergent.

[@justagirlsd3000]

You can buy pool PH up also at the hardware store or pool supply store.

[@FunEndeavors]

Yes, you can. Just make sure it is pure sodium carbonate.

[@Graybastian]

How do you know when you’ve exhausted the soda ash from the solution? How many shirts can you treat with two cups/2 gallons solution? I just received a bunch of shirts from Dharma and I can’t wait to do some ice dyeing!

[@FunEndeavors]

I reuse mine and so it lasts quite awhile. It will also stay good for a long time. I only put as many shirts into my soda ash solution bucket as will fit and be totally submerged at one time. I wring those out and then add more shirts to the bucket to let them soak while I am tying the first batch. You will know when your soda ash needs to be changed - it will usually start smelling kind of strange. Honestly, it takes months for that to happen most of the time.

[@POWAH92]

Thank you so much for the video! super informativ. just one question: How big is the cup? i was looking for one on amazon and they have sooo many different sizes. Could you tell me how big the cup you are using is?

[@FunEndeavors]

I am using a 1 cup measuring cup to measure the soda ash, and I am mixing the solution in a 5 gallon bucket that has a lid.

[@POWAH92]

​@@FunEndeavors Thanks for the answer. But that wasnt my question 😅 My questions is how big the cup is? In the sense of 50,100,150,200,etc...ml/g ?

[@FunEndeavors]

@@POWAH92 I'm sorry. I live in the US, and 1 cup is a unit of measure for us. Our 1 cup is 8 ounces or 236.6 milliliters (250 ml). If you are weighing out 1 cup of sodium carbonate, it weighs approximately 600 grams.

[@POWAH92]

@@FunEndeavors thank you so much :)

[@FunEndeavors]

@@POWAH92 You're welcome! 🙂

[@MorriAelthyn]

Today I learned that I don't need to pay a ton of money for soda ash because apparently the washing soda I already have is the same stuff. Thank you for the chemical name 😆 Do you have any tips on how large of a batch/ how to mix a batch large enough to soak four twin size muslin blankets and a king size muslin blanket?

[@FunEndeavors]

Awesome - I'm glad it was helpful! You would use the same formula to mix a large batch of soda ash solution (1 cup of sodium carbonate into 1 gallon of water). I would use a large plastic tote that will fit your blanket to mix it in. When I am mixing soda ash solution for a large group tie dye project, I use large plastic totes that have lids and they work great.

[@jerrym995]

can you use a paint mixer that hooks to a drill?

[@FunEndeavors]

Yes, you can.

[@octolegato]

How long would you guess this solution would last on average?

[@FunEndeavors]

If you keep it covered, it will last months. I reuse mine and I only make it every 3-4 months.

[@marcmillet906]

the first time i mixed soda ash i did not use gloves. my hands felt like dried prunes for a week. i have gloves now.

[@FunEndeavors]

I know - soda ash really bothers my hands too. I used to be able to tie shirts occasionally without wearing gloves, but I can't do it anymore.