Dyeing fabrics with tea can be an easy and inexpensive way to change the appearance of kitchen napkins, t-shirts, or other fabric items. The resulting color may not be as strong as chemical dyes, but it can cover light stains and give clothes an old-fashioned appearance. Also, as long as you have enough water to boil, you can dye the fabric with this technique at any time.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Brewing Tea
Step 1. Remove the tea bag from the packaging and cut the threads
To brew tea, remove the tea bag and discard the wrapper. Cut the thread with scissors and throw it away as well.
- Black tea is the most effective choice for dyeing fabrics because it is the darkest color. Lighter colored teas, such as white or green teas, will give less than satisfactory results.
- You can also use brewed tea to dye the fabric if you prefer. However, using a tea bag will make the staining process easier because the tea leaves are not scattered everywhere.
- The number of tea bags you need will depend on the size of the fabric to be dyed and how dark you want the color to be. The water needed should be able to soak the entire fabric. That way, the more water you use, the more tea bags you'll need.
- In most cases, you will need one tea bag for every one glass (250 ml) of water. If you want a darker color, use more tea bags.
Step 2. Boil water in a saucepan and add salt
Take a large pot, fill with enough water to soak the cloth and allow it to move freely. Add the table salt and heat the pan on the stove. Use high heat and wait until the water boils.
- In general, you need 1 liter of water for every one meter of fabric to be dyed.
- The salt will help lock the color onto the fabric so it doesn't fade when washed.
- Use 2 tablespoons of salt for every 1 liter of water used.
Step 3. Soak the tea in water
Once the water boils, turn off the stove, and add the tea bags. Let the tea bag soak until the water changes color. In most cases, the brewing process takes at least 15 minutes to complete.
The longer you soak the tea bag, the darker the tea will be and the darker the stain will be. Check the water frequently to see if the color is right before you dip the fabric
Part 2 of 3: Soaking the Cloth
Step 1. Wash or wet the cloth
The fabric to be dyed must be wet before dyeing. If you're going to dye an item that's already been used, wash it first to remove any stains or dirt. If the item is new, rinse it with water before coloring it. You'll need to squeeze the excess water out of the fabric before dyeing it.
- Tea staining can only be applied to fabrics with natural fibers, such as cotton, silk, linen, and wool. This technique will not work for synthetic textiles, such as polyester.
- You'll need to wring out the fabric before the dyeing process, but don't let it dry completely.
Step 2. Remove the tea bag and dip the cloth
Once you have the desired color of tea, carefully remove the tea bag from the water and throw it in the trash. Dip the wet cloth into the tea, making sure it is completely submerged.
- Use a wooden spoon or other stirrer to push the cloth into the bottom of the pan so that it is completely submerged in the water.
- Some parts of the fabric may start to pop up to the surface of the water. Use another spoon or kitchen utensil to hold the cloth under the water.
Step 3. Soak the cloth in the tea for at least 1 hour
Once the entire cloth is submerged in the tea, let it sit for at least 60 minutes. Keep in mind that the longer you soak the cloth in the tea, the darker the color will be.
- To get a pretty eye-catching stain, you may need to soak it overnight.
- It's best to flip the fabric or swirl it around in the tea from time to time during the dyeing process. This way, you will get an even coloring result.
- You can remove the cloth from the tea regularly to see how the color turns out. However, keep in mind that the color will appear lighter once the fabric is dry. So you may need to soak it longer than you think.
Part 3 of 3: Rinsing and Drying the Cloth
Step 1. Rinse and soak the cloth in cold water and vinegar
Once you get the color you want, remove the cloth from the tea. Rinse briefly with cold water, then soak in cold water for 10 minutes. Add a little vinegar to the water to help lock the color into the fabric.
If you are bothered by the smell of tea on the fabric, try washing it with a mild detergent manually. Detergent will help remove odors
Step 2. Squeeze excess water from the cloth
After soaking in a solution of cold water and vinegar, remove the cloth from the pan and wring out the excess water. Dry the cloth on a flat surface in the sun and allow it to dry completely.
You can also dry them in a tumble dryer, depending on the type of fabric
Step 3. Iron the fabric
The fabric may wrinkle when dipped in the pan for dyeing. If you dry the fabric on a flat surface, the creases will be reduced during the drying process. There's nothing wrong with ironing the fabric to smooth it out so it looks neater.
Consider the type of fabric when ironing. Strong fabrics, such as cotton and linen, retain heat well, but delicate fabrics, such as silk, should be handled with care. For thick woolen fabrics, use the steam function of the iron. Read the instructions in the iron's user manual to determine the most appropriate setting for the fabric
Tips
- In general, cotton is the most suitable type of fabric for dyeing tea because it promises maximum results.
- You can create a pinch effect by tying the fabric with string in several sections before soaking it in the tea. Wait for the item to dry completely before opening the strap.
- Create a speckled effect on the fabric by sprinkling salt crystals while drying the fabric. The salt will absorb some of the color and form tiny dots.
- After soaking the cloth for at least 1 hour, do not throw away the tea immediately. You may need to re-soak the fabric if the resulting color is not satisfactory.
