How to Dye a White Sheet Red With Food Coloring
Dyeing a white sheet red with food coloring is easy but time consuming. Food coloring is a weak dye, so it's easy to dye a white sheet pink with red food coloring, but getting a deep red color takes multiple dye sessions. You will need a wool, nylon or silk sheet for the project. Food coloring will not take to cotton, hemp or any synthetic fabric that's been treated with anti-stain coating.
Things You'll Need
- Six-gallon bucket
- Measuring cup
- White vinegar
- White sheet, queen size
- Six-gallon container
- Red food coloring
- Large spoon
Instructions
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1
Mix 2 gallons of hot water with 1 gallon of white vinegar in the large bucket to prepare a soaking solution. Place the clean white sheet in the solution and let it soak for 30 minutes.
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2
Mix 3 gallons of hot water and 1 cup of red food coloring in the large container.
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3
Remove the white sheet from the vinegar solution and wring it out well. Dye the white sheet red by dunking it into the red food coloring mixture. Stir the sheet and mixture gently with a large spoon for two minutes.
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4
Let the white sheet sit in the red food coloring mixture for two hours. Give the mixture a quick stir every 15 minutes.
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5
Remove the sheet from the red food coloring mixture and wring it out well. Rinse the sheet under cold water, until the water runs clear. Wring the excess water from the sheet well.
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6
Hang the white sheet and let dry. If the sheet dries to a lighter red than you desire, repeat the entire process again to create a richer red hue. However, you can only repeat the process two or three times before the sheet will no longer absorb the dye.
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Tips & Warnings
Wash the red-dyed sheet separately from other items to prevent the food coloring from leaching out and staining other fabrics. Use cold water and gentle laundry detergent to hand-wash or machine-wash the fabric to help prevent fading.
If you're worried about your hands getting temporarily stained, use a pair of old rubber gloves to dunk and wring out the dyed fabric.
Do not use any cherished containers or spoons. The dye will likely adhere to the container and spoon. You want to use old items that can be thrown away when you finish the project.
Do not use any bleach when you wash the newly dyed sheet. Even a small drop of bleach in the soapy water could result in splotching or fading of the red color.
