How to Care for Tie Dye T-Shirts

Making a tie dye t-shirt is a fun project, no matter what decade you were born in. But, these groovy one-of-a-kind garments need special care before they're ready to be worn. Follow these tips to be sure your tie dye creations stay bright and colorful.

Instructions

1. Wear old clothes that you don't mind getting dye on. Tie dyeing can be a messy project and dye can splash.

2. Rinse the newly dyed shirt thoroughly in warm water for several minutes. This helps rid the shirt of any extra dye. Switch to cool water and continue to rinse until the water runs completely clear.

3. Remove excess water by rolling the t-shirt up and squeezing it inside a towel. Be sure to use an old towel as some dye may still remain and may stain the towel.

4. Hang the t-shirt and allow it to air dry completely.

5. Iron the shirt at a high temperature. This helps seal in the color.

6. Wash the t-shirt separately using a mild detergent and cool water. This can be done manually or with a washing machine.

7. Tumble dry on warm or hot using your clothes dryer.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider washing the tie dyed t-shirt separately for the first few times after wearing. Some dye may still wash out, even after the initial rinsing, ironing and washing process.

• Always wear gloves when handing newly tie dyed garments to avoid staining skin.

• Avoid using bleach or detergents that contain bleach on tie dyed garments. Bleach can partially or completely remove the color.