RIT Tint & Dye Directions

Add RIT to your washing machine for easy and quick dyeing.

Entrepreneur Charles C. Huffman introduced RIT dye to the market in 1917. Named for his friend and investor Louis L. Rittenhouse, RIT was designed as a home dye with soap that would dye and wash fabrics at the same time. Today, RIT is still the leading name in at-home dyes. You can use it to create tie-dye patterns and designs on clothes, or simply to change the color of a clothing item to better suit your needs.

Instructions

1. Begin the hot-wash cycle on your washing machine, filling it with enough hot water for the fabrics you plan to dye to move freely. If you do not have access to a machine or are dyeing small items, you can fill a sink or bucket with enough hot water for the fabric to move freely.

2. Decide how much dye to use based on how much fabric you are dyeing. RIT recommends using one package of RIT powder and three gallons of hot water for each pound of fabric.

3. Pre-dissolve the dye in two cups of hot water, then add it to the washing machine, sink or bucket. Wet the fabric with hot water, then add it to the dye bath.

4. Place your machine on the extended wash cycle so the fabric is in the dye bath for a minimum of 30 minutes before the rinse cycle begins. If you don't have an extended wash cycle, simply reset the machine to wash before the rinse begins. If you are using a sink or bucket, stir the fabric constantly for 30 minutes. For a lighter color, leave the fabrics in the dye for less time.

5. Rinse the fabric in cold water through the machine's rinse cycle, or in your sink or bucket, until the water runs clear. For deep shades, wash clothes again in warm water with a mild detergent.

6. Dry the fabric in a dryer or let it air dry.

7. Clean the washing machine after use by running a large, hot cycle with detergent and one cup of chlorine bleach. Clean a sink or tub by soaking with chlorine bleach or scrubbing with a chlorine-based cleanser.

Tips & Warnings

• The dye may tint plastic parts of the washing machine, but it will not come off on clothes.

• Do not use plastic or fiberglass buckets for dye, as they will stain.

References

• Rit: A Century of Rit: 1910s
• Rit: Dyeing Techniques: Washing Machine
• Rit: Dyeing Techniques: Sink or Bucket