How to Dye Burlap

Burlap fabric can be dyed safely and easily.

Burlap is a versatile and inexpensive material that is used for a variety of purposes. It is typically made from any variety of coarsely woven fabric, such as flax, hemp or most commonly jute. Because burlap is made from a natural, rather than synthetic, fiber, in order to color burlap, a special type of dye, called fiber reactive dye, must be used. Fiber-reactive dyes can be found at crafting stores, fabric stores as well as from a variety of online retailers.

Things You'll Need

• Burlap fabric
• Fiber reactive dye
• Synthrapol detergent
• Measuring cup
• Small bowl
• 1 tbsp. urea
• Tub large enough to hold the fabric
• Soda ash
• Gloves
• Measuring spoon
• Non-iodized salt

Instructions

1. Prewash the fabric that will be dyed in hot water. Add ¼ cup of Synthrapol to the washing machine. This step is particularly important if there is any chance the burlap has any sort of oil or dirt on it.

2. Mix the dye into warm water. Make a paste by mixing a small amount of warm water with the fiber reactive dye. Use a non-metallic utensil to combine the water with the dye. The result will be a thick, paste-like consistency. Once the dye has dissolved, add 1 cup of warm water to the paste and stir until the paste has been evenly distributed into the warm water. Add all of the dye to the tub that will be used for dyeing and mix thoroughly.

3. Dissolve non-iodized salt into water once it has reached a lukewarm temperature. Add the salt-water mixture to the dyeing tub, which may be a washing machine or any large container.

4. Place the fabric into the dyeing tub. Mix the fabric and dye together for 20 minutes. This is where the use of a washing machine comes in handy because it can be set to agitate to ensure the fabric is continuously stirred. Make sure the water doesn't drain out of the washing machine before 20 minutes. If a washing machine is not available, use a utensil to stir the fabric in the dye gently.

5. Mix soda ash into warm water. Add the soda ash and water mixture to the tub, slowly. It is important the fabric and dye are stirred continuously during this time. It should take 15 minutes to add the soda ash in small increments to the tub. Take care not to pour the soda ash directly onto the fabric because it will lead to discoloration and uneven dyeing. Distribute the soda ash into the tub as much as possible prior to placing the fabric into the area of the water with a high concentration of soda ash. After the soda ash has been added to the tub, continue to circulate the mixture of soda ash, fabric and dye together for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Once again, the washing machine is best used for this purpose because it can be set to agitate.

6. Rinse out the excess dye from the burlap fabric. This can be done by running cool water over the dyed burlap until the water runs clear or by placing the fabric into washing machine's rinse cycle multiple times. After the water runs clear from the burlap, wash the dyed burlap in the washing machine using hot water and Synthrapol detergent.

Tips & Warnings

• If the dye does not easily dissolve into the water, add 1 tbsp. of urea to a cup of warm water prior to mixing adding the fabric to the dye.

• Wear gloves in order to protect hands.

• Cover the area near the dye, in order to avoid inadvertent staining.

• Clean up spilled dye promptly afterward, in order to prevent staining.

References

• Parshwanath Group of Industries: Reactive Dyes
• Prym Consumer USA Inc. Dylon Permanent Fabric Dyes

Resources

• Easter Michigan University: Dyers List for Technical Questions