How to re-dye jeans
Your favorite jeans have faded from midnight blue to sky blue. You still love them, but not their new color. Or perhaps you're rethinking the purchase of that stone-washed pair. Re-dye your jeans yourself to restore them to their former dark glory. Fabric dyes are available at most drugstores and craft stores. You can devote an afternoon to the project and end up with "new" jeans to rock that night. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Fill a bucket with hot water and your dye, according to the instructions on the dye box.
-
2
Run your jeans under hot water.
-
-
3
Put on your rubber gloves. Put the jeans into the bucket full of dye. Stir them with a wooden spoon. For a light dye job, stir for 10 minutes; for a dark dye job, stir for up to 30 minutes.
-
4
Take the jeans out of the bucket and rinse them with warm water. Lower the water temperature as your rinse, until the water runs clear.
-
5
Wash the jeans in the washing machine with a mild detergent.
-
6
Let your jeans air dry.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
It is usually best to start with the lightest color you think will match your original color best. You can always dye them darker later if you need to.
If dying standard denim, you need to pay attention to the warp and weft - which is typically blue warp, white weft.
When you dye denim, you'll get a very uniform look.
If the denim is quite worn, the fabric will also take dye up unevenly.
As far as dye goes, the usual RIT dyes are not as good as the Procion MX dyes for cotton. You can get them at the link in the resources.
For best color results when dyeing fabrics containing cotton, rayon, ramie, or linen, add 1 cup salt to the bucket.
Do not put dye into your washing machine - this will stain the drum and plastic and cause a really big mess - USE A BUCKET!
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images
Comments
View all 12 Comments-
when dying jeans, after you rinse and run water until clear. the next step would be to wash in washing machine, is that with hot or cold water, and will it ruin the washer? also, after washed, will dye rub off on you if you were to get rain on or sweat?
-
The thing is I want to dye just one small spot. Any tips?
-
When you say pay attention to the warp and weft, what exactly am I "paying attention to"? I understand what warp and weft are... but how does this effect the way I should dye my jeans? Also, why is RIT an inferior dye? Does it not dye evenly, does it not last as long, is the color saturation not as good?
-
Shelly, I would really love that!!! Well guys the jeans are purplish, like what we wore in middle school. Jessica, I hope your right. I am gonna stay true to my jeans though. I love them no matter what color they are! : )
-
Kelly, I wish we lived closer so we could be crafty together! And you could join our book club :)
