How to Add Soda Ash to Tie Dye

Soda ash will help make the dye permanent.

Tie dyeing is a fun activity that has been around much longer than most people realize. In 618 A.D., the Chinese developed tie dye methods that were adapted by many Asian and Middle East countries. The 1960's popularized tie dye fashions in the United States and Europe that are still around today. A key ingredient to tie dying is soda ash, which ensures that the dye permanently adheres to your fabric.

Things You'll Need

• Large bucket
• 3 gallons of warm water
• Dye
• Old spoon
• Fabric
• 1 1/2 cups non-iodized salt
• 1/4 cup soda ash

Instructions

1. Fill a large bucket with 3 gallons of warm water. Add dye to the bucket.

2. Stir the dye into the bucket using an old spoon because the dye will stain it.

3. Add the fabric to the bucket.

4. Add 1/2 cup of non-iodized salt to the bucket while stirring. After five minutes, add another 1/2 cup of salt while stirring. After another five minutes, add the last 1/2 cup of salt while stirring. If you are tie dyeing using very dark shades like hunter green, navy blue or black, add double the salt at 15 minute intervals.

5. Add 1/8 cup soda ash to the dye bath while stirring. After 15 minutes, add another 1/8 cup of soda ash to the dye bath while stirring.

6. Dye your fabric for at least 30 minutes after the last 1/8 cup of soda ash. Keep your fabric dyeing for 60 minutes at the most to create deep shades.

References

• Paula Burch: What Is Soda Ash, and What's It For In Dyeing?
• Jacquard Procion MX Dyes: Immersion Dyeing

Resources

• Harmony Tie-Dyes: The History of Tie-Dye