How to Dye Bamboo Fabric

The versatile bamboo plant is used to produce fabric similar to rayon.

Bamboo fabric, like rayon, is made with a chemical process that transforms the raw plant fibers into thread that can be woven or knitted into cloth. This fabric is often touted as "green," or eco-friendly, since bamboo's rapid growth allows for a plentiful and renewable supply of fiber. Like rayon, bamboo fabric can be fragile when wet, but dyes easily in vivid colors with the same fiber-reactive dyes that are used for cotton.

Things You'll Need

• Bamboo fabric (up to 8 lbs.)
• 1/2 cup powdered fiber reactive (Procion) dye
• 20 cups salt
• Large plastic bucket
• 2 1/2 cups soda ash or 5 cups washing soda
• Washing machine
• Textile detergent such as Synthrapol (dish detergent may be substituted)

Instructions

1. Prepare the fabric for dyeing by pre-washing in hot water with textile detergent or dish detergent. As bamboo fabric can be delicate, you may want to wash it by hand, especially if you are working with raw cloth that has unfinished edges.

2. Mix powdered fiber reactive dye with salt in large plastic bucket or mixing bowl. Do not use cooking utensils that will be used again for food when working with dyes.

3. Fill the washing machine to its smallest load setting with hot water. Add powdered dye and salt mix, then agitate until dye and salt are thoroughly dissolved.

4. Place bamboo fabric in washing machine and agitate to distribute dye evenly. To ensure an even color, use a few drops of dish detergent in the washing machine as well. Continue agitating for about 10 minutes. Be sure not to let the water spin out -- you may need to reset your washing cycle a few times. Use a gentle agitation setting, as bamboo fabric can be delicate.

5. Rinse the bucket that was used for dye and salt and fill it most of the way with hot water. Add the soda ash or washing soda, stirring constantly. It's important to add the water to the bucket first, as the soda ash will form clumps if water is poured over it instead. Stir until fully dissolved.

6. Pour the soda ash solution into the washing machine as the load agitates. Continue agitating for at least 20 minutes. Darker colors may take even longer.

7. Allow the load to spin out, then add textile detergent and reset the washing machine to a hot wash at full capacity. Rinse at least twice in cold water, until the rinse water runs clear. For delicate fabrics, these rinses may be done by hand.

Tips & Warnings

• For a smaller amount of fabric, reduce the amounts of dye and salt used and follow the same instructions otherwise. For less than one pound of fabric, reduce all amounts proportionally and use a large bucket for dyeing (you will need to stir constantly by hand).

• This method dyes a large amount of bamboo fabric a solid color. Bamboo is also suitable for tie-dyeing. Follow standard dyeing instructions for cotton T-shirts to tie-dye bamboo.

• The dyes that work on bamboo will also dye any other plant fiber, so be sure to wear old clothes during the dyeing process, in case of splashes.

References

• Paula Burch: How to Dye Rayon and Bamboo
• Oriri Draco Design: Spinning and Dyeing with Bamboo
• Dharma Trading: Tub Dyeing Techniques