How To Do Just About Everything
By eHow Home & Garden Editor
Rate: (16 Ratings)
It's happened to all of us; the stray red sock in the white wash. Or, the expensive Egyptian cotton towels that fade after the first trip through the laundry. There is a simple way to set dye in fabric and prevent it from fading or tinting other articles of clothing.
eHow Home & Garden Editor
How to Wash Spandex
By:
eHow Home & Garden Editor
How to Dry Clothes Quickly
By:
eHow Home & Garden Editor
How to Get the Stink Out of Cloth Diapers
By:
eHow Home & Garden Editor
Comments
vtvickil said
on 8/12/2008 I'm a wardrobe consultant and have used the vinegar solution with my client's purchases for years. It absolutely works, so no need to purchase some specialized product.
AbbyNormal said
on 6/5/2008 Actually, vinegar does work! Whenever we get a new bathing suit, we first soak it in cold water with vinegar. This keeps it from fading at the beach or pool. GOOD ARTICLE.
purplepatty said
on 3/29/2008 Vinegar is not the answer!Many people who know nothing about this subject recommend 'setting' dye in cotton clothing with vinegar. Vinegar will help set some acid dyes, but only if applied while it is gradually heated to a simmer.Salt won't do it, either because it will not itself fix the dye to the fiber. There is only one type of product that you can buy that will actually set dye regardless of its type. It's called Retayne;it's a cationic bulking agent, which acts to seal in the dye by physical means, rather than the chemical bonds which are so dependant on the type of dye.
purplepatty said
on 3/29/2008 Vinegar is not the answer!
Many people who know nothing about this subject recommend 'setting' dye in cotton clothing with vinegar. In fact, vinegar can do nothing useful for cotton dyes. Vinegar will help set some acid dyes, but only if applied while it is gradually heated to a simmer (generally in the presence of salt), solely in cases in which this necessary part of acid dyeing was omitted; acid dyes are used on silk, wool, or nylon, but never cotton.
Salt won't do it, either
Salt can be useful in dyeing, by encouraging the fiber not to repel the dye, or by making the dye less soluble, but it will not itself fix the dye to the fiber. Washing your garment with salt won't hurt it, but it also will not help. The extra washing will help to remove the dye only because it's another run through the washer, which can help to remove excess dye.
There is only one type of product that you