How to Dye Shirts With Food Coloring

Making hand-dyed shirts with food coloring can be an enjoyable activity for small children or an economical way to brighten up some of your old shirts. Food coloring is safe for kids because it's nontoxic and washes off their skin more easily than fabric dyes. Food coloring is inexpensive and dyeing clothing with it is easy because you do not have to put the dye through the washing machine or in a special color-safe container.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Water
• Distilled white vinegar
• Spray bottle
• Shirt
• Large, shallow microwavable bowl or dish
• Food coloring
• Tongs
• Gloves
• Cellophane wrap
• Microwave oven

1. Check the label on the shirts you want to dye. Do not use food coloring to dye cotton, acrylic or polyester because these fabrics won't hold food coloring, and the color will come out when you rinse it or get it wet. Food coloring also doesn't work with linen, rayon or hemp. The dye will adhere well to wool, silk and nylon.

2. Mix a 50-50 solution of water and distilled white vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray the shirt all over to dampen it with the vinegar solution. The shirt should be wet to the touch but not drippy.

3. Lay the shirt in a large, shallow microwaveable bowl or dish with the side you want to dye facing up. Don't use a plastic dish because the color may not come out of it after microwaving. Decorate the shirt by applying the food coloring directly to the fabric. If you want to decorate other parts of the shirt, use the tongs to turn it around.

4. Dye the whole shirt one color by mixing about 2 cups of vinegar with the food dye in the bowl. Add enough dye to get a dark color (at least 20 drops) and press the dampened shirt into it with the tongs. Let the shirt sit for a few minutes, stirring it gently with the tongs to spread the dye evenly. Lift the shirt out to check the color. If it isn't dark enough, wring it out into the bowl (wear gloves if you don't want to dye your hands), add some more food coloring and try again.

5. Cover the bowl or dish tightly with the cellophane wrap and put it in the microwave. Turn the heat on high and heat the shirt until the cellophane starts to expand at the top. This should take at least 15 seconds, though it could take longer. Turn off the microwave as soon as the cellophane starts to expand to avoid drying or burning the shirt.

6. Take off the cellophane and allow the shirt to cool completely. When it's cool, rinse it in cold water until the dye stops running out.

Tips & Warnings

• Wash the shirt in cold water on the gentle cycle or hand wash the shirt when it gets dirty. Wash the shirt as little as possible to make the dye last longer.

References

• Dye With Food Coloring
• Dyeing With Food Coloring

Resources

• About Food Coloring Dye