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How to Dye Fabric Black

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Updated: September 6, 2019 | References

Whether you're looking to make a light fabric dark or darken a pair of faded black jeans, black
fabric dye can help. Black fabric dye will give your fabric a vibrant, brand-new looking color
again.
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Part 1 of 3:
Making a Dye Bath

1.

1
Use a black fabric dye designed for your kind of fabric. If your fabric is made out of natural fibers
like cotton, linen, silk, and wool, most fabric dyes will work. If your fabric is made out of synthetic
materials like polyester, spandex, and acrylic, look for a black fabric dye that says “synthetic fibers”
on the label. Non-synthetic fabric dyes may not dye fabrics made with synthetic materials. [1]
 2.

2
Fill a large container with boiling hot water. A large bowl or bucket will work. Make sure the
container is large enough to hold the piece of fabric you're dyeing. Fill the container with enough
water that you'll be able to completely submerge your piece of fabric. Using boiling water will give
you the best results, but your fabric will still dye if you just use hot water from a tap. [2]

 If you have access to a stovetop and large pot, you can make your dye bath on the
stovetop and turn the burner to low. Keeping the water hot throughout the dye process will make
the final color darker.[3]
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 3.

3
Pour black fabric dye into the container of water. Read the label on the back of the fabric dye to
see how much you should use. Keep in mind that the more fabric dye you use, the darker the final
color will be. If you want your fabric to be a dark, solid black, you may want to use an entire container
of fabric dye. Stir the dye thoroughly with a spoon.[4]

 You can find a black fabric dye online or at your local fabric store.

4.

4
Add table salt to the dye bath if you want a more vibrant color. Use .25 cups (59 mL) of salt per .5
pounds (0.23 kg) of fabric you're dyeing. Thoroughly stir the salt into the dye bath with a spoon. [5]

 For example, if you're dyeing 3 pounds (1.4 kg) of fabric, you would use 1.5 cups
(350 mL) of salt.
Part 2 of 3:
Dyeing the Fabric

1.

1
Put the fabric in the dye bath. Make sure the fabric is completely submerged in the bath. Press down
on the fabric using a long metal utensil, like a spatula or spoon, to get out any air bubbles that are
trapped in the fabric.[6]
 2.

2
Stir the fabric in the dye bath periodically with a metal utensil. As you're stirring it, turn the fabric
over in the container and unfold it with the utensil. That way all of the fabric will be exposed to the
dye.[7]

3.

3
 Let the fabric soak in the dye bath for 30-60 minutes. The longer you let the fabric soak in the dye
bath, the darker the final color will be. Make sure you let the fabric soak for at least 30 minutes or the
dye may not stick to the fabric.

4. 4
Dump the dye bath out in a sink or bathtub. Once all the dye is down the drain, leave the piece of
fabric in the sink or tub. Avoid dumping the dye bath out outside.[8]
Part 3 of 3:
Rinsing and Washing the Fabric

1. 1
Apply a dye fixative before you rinse the fabric for an enhanced color. Dye fixative will help the
dye cling to the fibers in your fabric so the final color looks more vibrant. If you decide to use a dye
fixative, spray it over the entire surface of the fabric so the fabric is heavily coated. Let the dye
fixative soak into the fabric for 20 minutes.[9]

 You can find dye fixative online or at your local fabric store.

2. 2
Rinse the excess dye off of the fabric with hot water at first. Rinse the fabric in the sink or tub you
dumped the dye bath out in. Unfold the fabric so that it's all exposed to the running water. [10]

3. 3
Rinse the fabric under cold water until the water runs clear. Make sure you wait until the water
runs clear or there could still be leftover dye in the fabric. Once the water runs clear, stop rinsing the
fabric and ring out any excess water.[11]

4. 4
Machine wash and dry the fabric by itself on a normal setting. Washing the fabric by
itself will prevent any leftover dye from transferring to your other laundry. After its first
wash, your fabric should be OK to wash with your other laundry.[12]
 If you're worried about your fabric shrinking in the dryer, hang dry it instead.
Community Q&A
 Question

Must fixative be mixed with water?

T. Chinsen
Top Answerer
 The manufacturers recommend soaking the dyed garment in a mix of the fixative and hot
water. Due to toxicity of the chemicals, gloves and a bucket should be used. Do not use
cooking pots or any food utensils. Read instructions before using the fixative.
 Question

I have died white lace to black with regular dye, which came out gray. I used synthetic;
some came out black, but a good portion was gray. Used regular dye again, doubled dye
and it still came out gray. Any ideas?
Community Answer

Try a different dye that is stronger. Also, are you keeping it in the dye long enough? If this
still doesn't work, attempt dyeing it again.
 Question

I dyed a white cotton hat black and the color keeps fading. I left it in the dye overnight
twice and it's still not working, what can I do?
Wendy Coats
Community Answer

Ritz dye works great on fabric. I use it to dye feathers and t-shirts with minimal fading.
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About This Article

Co-Authored By:
wikiHow Staff Editor

This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated
it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Together, they cited information from 12
references.
Co-authors: 3
Updated: September 6, 2019
Views: 64,549
Article Rating: 84% - 124 votes

Categories: Dyeing Clothes and Fabric

Article Summary
References
1. ↑https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bring-science-home-brightest-dye/
2. ↑https://www.collegefashion.net/fashion-tips/how-to-use-rit-dye-to-update-your-
clothes/
3. ↑https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwqbCYiPMT0&feature=youtu.be&t=22
4. ↑https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwqbCYiPMT0&feature=youtu.be&t=25
5. ↑https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7M61pYYlOk&feature=youtu.be&t=126
6. ↑https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7M61pYYlOk&feature=youtu.be&t=150
7. ↑http://www.madeeveryday.com/2008/07/tutorial-easy-fabric-dyeing.html/
8. ↑http://www.madeeveryday.com/2008/07/tutorial-easy-fabric-dyeing.html/
9. ↑https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwqbCYiPMT0&feature=youtu.be&t=57
More References

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