How to Change the Color of Maroon Bed Sheets

Maroon bed sheets are nice but every now and again it's good to spice things up and make a change. With a bit of craftiness and patience, you can change the color of your sheets yourself, without having to throw out your usable sheets or spend money purchasing a new set. Do-it-yourself sheets allow you to individualize your sheets and get creative. Dying your sheets sophisticated black, lightening them or tie-dying them are two ways to change the color of your maroon sheets.

Things You'll Need

• Black fabric dye
• Washing machine and dryer
• Large bucket, cooler or container
• Plastic stirring utensil
• Bleach
• Packet of rubber bands
• 2 different color fabric dyes
• 2 smaller buckets

Instructions

Black Sheets

1. Purchase washable black fabric dye and two color dyes from a local fabric or craft retailer, grocery store or drug store.

2. Strip the maroon bed sheets and pillow cases off of your bed.

3. Wash and dry your sheets to provide a clean slate for color fastening.

4. Fill your large container or bucket with hot water.

5. Measure the correct proportion of dye for the dye-to-water ratio and add the dye to the hot water.

6. Wet the sheets in clean, hot water and wring dry.

7. Add the sheets to the container with dye.

8. Constantly stir the sheets in the dye for as long as the dye package maintains the dyed material to soak.

9. Rinse the sheets in clean beginning with warm water and gradually moving to cooler, cold water until the water is clear of dye.

10. Wash and dry your sheets in the washing machine without other articles of clothing for the first few washes.

Bleaching Sheets

1. Add specified water-to-bleach ratio to your bucket or container.

2. Mix in the correct amount of bleach for the quantity of water.

3. Add sheets to the mixture and stir. Make sure to rotate the sheets so that the bleach reaches all creases and corners of the sheets.

4. Let soak for a few hours or until specified on the bleach bottle. Repeat bleach steps 1-4 if the sheets are still darkly colored.

5. Wash and dry sheets separately.

Tie Dye Sheets

1. Twist sections of your sheet and secure with a rubber band. More twisted segments will increase the amount of tie dye patterns.

2. Mix the two fabric dyes with water in separate buckets, according to the label instructions.

3. Dip sections of the sheets in different dye buckets to change colors.

4. Let stand dry until the dye is completely set.

5. Wash sheets in cold water and dry before using.

Tips & Warnings

• You can save fabric dyes for other projects. Store at the temperature desired on the dye bottle.

• Be alert when handling hot water to prevent scalding and burns. Do not leave hot water unattended around small children.

References

• Life 123: Tie Dye
• LOTR: Fabric Dying
• Threads: Bleach Dying

Resources

• Fleece Farm: Fabric Dying