How to Wash a Tie-Dye Shirt

Knots and twists determine the pattern dyes make on a shirt.

Whether store bought or homemade, keep the artistic arrangement of color on your tie-dye shirt brilliant as ever with careful washing and drying. Tie-dye works best on natural fabrics such as cotton and silk so factor fabric care into your washing plans. For the first wash of a homemade tie-dye shirt, plan on a long careful soak and washing your tie-dye alone. After that, your tie-dye should be colorfast.

Things You'll Need

• Pre-treatment spray
• Detergent

Instructions

Store-Bought Tie-Dye

1. Read the care label. Wash most tie-dyed fabrics and garments in warm or cold water. If there are any stains, spray them with pre-treatment spray and let the spray soak into the fabric for a few minutes. Avoid products that contain bleach, which can discolor the tie-dye.

2. Spray any stains with a laundry pre-treatment. Place the shirt in the washer and add detergent. Be sure to use a gentle soap that contains no bleach.

3. Hang the shirt or lay it flat to dry. Air-drying helps keep colors bright and reduces fading.

Homemade Tie-Dye

1. Pre-treat any stains as needed. Let the garment sit for 5 to 10 minutes after spraying to let the spray soak into the fabric.

2. Hand wash the shirt in cold water. Let the shirt soak in a bath of cold water and detergent for 10 to 15 minutes. Gently rub the fabric together to remove dirt and grime. Wring out soap and water and rinse under cold water to remove soapy residue. Wring out excess water.

3. Air dry to preserve the color. Iron on a low setting if needed.

Tips & Warnings

• The fiber reactive dyes used for tie-dye are generally permanent and colorfast. After the first wash, when excess color is rinsed away, most tie-dye garments can be washed with normal detergents.

References

• Western Michigan University; Not Your Mother's Tie Dye; Melissa D. Jones, et al.