10 Common Tie-Dye Mistakes (and How to Fix Them for Best Results)
If you're new to tie dye, there's a chance you've run into some roadblocks. I get it, we all struggle from time to time, but with a little bit of troubleshooting and prep, you will be popping out tie dye shirts faster than you can say washing machine!
After years and years of experience with tie-dye projects, these are the 10 most common issues people encounter that lead to issues during dying process.
Before we dive in, here is my supply list:
100% cotton item (shirt, sweatshirt, tote bag, etc.)
Squeeze bottles (12 oz each)
Powdered dyes (different colors of your choice!) - this is the ONLY brand I use!
Rubber bands or elastic bands
Protective gloves/protective clothing
Soda ash (sodium carbonate)
Tarp or plastic covering to protect your work surface (a plastic tablecloth works well)
Sealable plastic bags or plastic wrap
Washing machine
1. Using the Wrong Fabric
Mistake: Using rayon, spandex or polyester. These do not absorb the dye or hold moisture within the fibers of the fabric.
Instead, try this: Tie dye works best on cotton, silk, wool, and hemp. I have also seen beautiful results with cashmere sweaters.
2. Not Pre-Washing Fabric
Mistake: When garments are purchased from a store, they come with a factory coating. Everything from shoes to hats arrive with a factory finish. This is sometimes a stain spray or a spray guard. Also, using fabric softener or dyes with bleach will cause the dye to bleed or fade.
Instead, try this: Pre-wash every single garment that you plan to apply dye to. It is best to use a specialty detergent for this process. Syntrapol is a suds-free detergent and it has a mild ph, which helps the dye to remain absorbed into the fibers.
3. Forgetting to Soak in Soda Ash
Mistake: This is the most important part of tie dyeing and, unfortunately, it is the most frequently skipped part of the process. I have noticed that when kids make tie dye at school or camp, they always skip this step - either because of expense or because of ignorance regarding the tie dye process.
Instead, try this: Soak all garments in a mixture of soda ash and water for 20 minutes. Wear gloves and a mask when using soda ash. If your art suppy store does not have soda ash, you can also find it at any pool supply company.
4. Not Wearing Gloves or Protecting Surfaces
Mistake: Tie dye stains everything! This is why you want to wear clothing that can be ruined, and you want to wear gloves. Learn from my mistakes as someone who has made this mistake many, many times. Nothing takes the dye out of your hands - only time. It seeps into the cuticles and is just impossible to clean. You can prevent this by using the hand lotion “gloves in a bottle.” However, gloves are always your best bet! Also, protect your work surface with a plastic tarp or tablecloth. Do not use a cloth tablecloth! However, you can also use plastic bag, a series of bags, or even plastic wrap to protect your work surface.
Try this instead: Wear gloves and cover your work area with plastic or a tarp. Keep paper towels handy for spills. Don’t skip the prep work - you’ll be so glad you took the time you get it done!
5. Not using the right amount of dye
Mistake: If you keep adding more dye because you aren't sure, the excess dye will bleed into the entire project. More dye does not yield more vibrant colors, either. Also, not using enough dye is equally as problematic. Always follow the manufacturers instructions to yield the best results. The reason so many people love using tie dye kits is because the squeeze bottles are already filled with just the right amount of dye powder. Follow the instructions and you will have the best tie-dye shirt in town!
Instead, try this: Add your dye using a squeeze bottle and go slow. Make sure to hit the spots between layers. Then, flip over the garment and add more. The dye will begin to seep through to the other side. Wait a while before adding more and only add more if you see white space. If there's no white space, you are good to go!
6. Over-Mixing Colors
Mistake: If you are wanting bright colors, you want to do a little bit of research to see which colors work best together. If you add too many colors to the mix, you will end up with muddy colors, and you do not want that.
Instead, try this: Make a plan before mixing and dyeing. Place warm colors together and cool colors together. If you want more contrast, add grey or black between colors.
7. Not Letting Dye Set Long Enough
Mistake: Tie dyeing is exciting! Especially if it is your very first time. It is always a good idea to let your dyes sit for at least 24 hours before the first wash. This gives the natural fabrics the opportunity to create long-lasting colors that are saturated and vibrant. If you wash your garment too soon, you will have a faded tie-dye design.
Try this instead: Place your tie dye into a ziplock bag and seal. Put an alarm on your phone for 24 hours and wait until the alarm goes off before rinsing your garment. Trust me! And I know, patience with the process is so hard!
8. Washing Out Incorrectly
Mistake: Washing your tie dye in the wash machine with detergent immediately. If you do this, you will rinse off all of that beautiful color that you've achieved in the tie dye process.
Instead, follow this process:
After your fabric has been sitting for a long time (at least 24 hours), it’s time for the first wash. Follow these steps for the best way to set your colors:
Rinse the garment in cold running water (don’t forget your gloves!) to remove the excess dye. I do this in my kitchen sink and it always takes longer than you think. The dye will just continuously run out with the cold water. Do not use hot water!
Remove the rubber bands and continue rinsing until the water runs mostly clear. Once the cool water is clear, you can move onto the next step.
Place the garment in your washing machine. Wash on a cold water cycle without detergent for the first wash to stop the dyeing process. Do not forget that this first wash with the machine should be cold water.
For the second wash, use a gentle squirt of dish soap like Synthrapol or dawn detergent. It’s important to use a mild detergent with this step. This helps remove any remaining dye residue and will prevent different colors from bleeding into your wash.
Wash again! Yes, the tie-dye process can be tedious, but the good news is that after this step, you are good to go!
Pro tip: Avoid using fabric softener during the first few washes to ensure the dye doesn’t fade prematurely. And no matter what, never wash your tie dye shirts in hot water!
Want to learn more about rinsing & washing your tie dye project? Click here.
9. Improper Folding/Binding
Mistake: Not folding or scrunching your fabric. Follow this guide for some fun techniques and ideas!
Instead, try this: Watch some youtube videos and learn some new tricks. If you take the time to study the color wheel and work on tight folds, you will not be disappointed!
10. Using Old or Weak Dye
Mistake: Many people do not realize that dye does not last forever. Especially if it is already mixed with water in a squeeze bottle. Do not purchase more dye than you need!
Instead, try this: Purchase dye as you need it. I believe that some dyes are better than others.
Extra tips and tricks:
1. There are a lot of kits on the market, and they are not all created equally! For example, Tulip does make some good kits, however, the tulip one-step dyes are not my favorite because they mix the soda ash solution into the squeeze bottle with the dye. This is not best practice for tie dye as the cotton shirts are supposed to soak in only the soda ash so that the dye can reach the natural fibers. As mentioned above, not using soda ash is one of the most common tie-dye mistakes you can make!
2. There are so many fun patterns you can make, as well as ice dye. Study the techniques before starting so you can have fun experimenting!
3. Procion dyes are the best for tie dying. I specifically love the ones from dharma trading!
Ready to take on some new tie-dye projects? Check out these posts for some inspo:
How to Make Sharpie Tie Dye Using Rubbing Alcohol
30 Cool Tie-Dye Patterns & Folding Techniques
