How to Refresh Your Little Black Dress, etc

The perfect little black dress...

So, you look great in black. You own the perfect little black dress, lots of black pants, black skirts, and black tops galore. It's chic and sleek, and you can never go wrong if you're wearing it, right? Well, take a look at your black clothing. Has it faded? If so, you may be looking more shabby than chic. Read on to find how to easily refresh your wardrobe of black with fabric dye so it looks dark and new once more.

Things You'll Need

• washable black clothing
• black fabric dye
• washing machine
• detergent
• chlorine bleach

Instructions

1. GATHER
   Gather your black shirts, pants, dresses, skirts, etc. Check the labels to find those that are at least 60% cotton or other natural fibers, like linen, silk, wool, and ramie. Rayon also dyes well. These are the most comfortable fabrics, and are most likely to have faded over time. Fabric needs to be at least 60% natural fiber for fabric dye to work on it. Make sure that you can safely wash these items in hot water.

2. BUY DYE
   Buy some black fabric dye. Read the label or check the website to know how much to buy. (See Resources below.) If you are dying just a few items, you may need only one bottle, but be prepared to buy more, as needed. Don't skimp! You need enough dye to give you that rich, deep blackness you desire. Rit dye is the best known, and has given me great results. The liquid is the easiest and most fool proof! You may like the convenience of buying it over the internet.

3. GET READY
   Using the washing machine is an easy way to dye things. Prewet your black clothing. Do not put it in the machine yet. Fill the machine with HOT water, using only just enough water to allow the clothing to move freely. Put in your dye, and swish it around a bit to dissolve.

4. WISHY WASHY, WISHY WASHY
   Set machine for the longest wash cycle. Your clothing needs to be in the dye for at least 30 minutes before any rinsing. (You can run the wash part of the cycle twice before the rinse cycle begins to give enough time in the dye.)

5. MORE MACHINE MAGIC
   Run the rinse cycle on cold twice. Then, run a complete short wash and rinse cycle in warm water with detergent. Dry the items the way you normally would.

6. CLEAN IT UP
   Clean your washing machine by filling it the highest it will go. Use hot water, detergent and 1 cup chlorine bleach. They say that some plastic or rubber machine parts might be tinted but will not stain laundry. I have never had that happen, and I've machine dyed, many times.

7. ELEGANT YOU!
   Now, wear your refreshed and renewed favorite black clothing, knowing how chic you are once again in your little black dresses!

Tips & Warnings

• Liquid dye is easier and more fool-proof than powdered dyes.

• Dyeing tops and bottoms together can make the blacks match much more closely.

• Wear old clothing when handling dye.

Resources

• RIT Dye site