There's a simple way to dye fabric using an ingredient you probably already have at home, namely coffee. You can dye your fabric using coffee with the help of a few simple tools and common materials that you probably already have in your closet. This method is most effective on natural fabrics, such as cotton, wool, and linen. This process is fairly quick and uncluttered, and you can change the look of almost any fabric you want.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Soaking Cloth in Coffee
Step 1. Wash the cloth before soaking
The cloth to be soaked in coffee should be washed and dried first as usual. This way, the cloth will be free of dirt and oil that blocks the absorption of coffee.
Newly purchased fabrics may still be spray-coated. Therefore, this step becomes very important. The coating on the fabric is usually a chemical that can irritate the skin and prevent the fabric from absorbing the coffee properly
Step 2. Brew the coffee
The amount of coffee brewed depends on the level of darkness of the desired fabric color. Strong coffee will produce a darker color.
- If you want a darker color, increase the amount of coffee or use a dark/very strong roast. If you want a slightly lighter color, reduce the amount of coffee or use a light or medium roast.
- If you don't want to brew several cups of coffee at home, you can use instant or ready-to-drink coffee at a convenience store or coffee shop. However, the cost will also be higher.
Step 3. Fill the pot with water
Place the pot on the stove and turn it on until the heat is high.
The size of the pan you use will depend on the amount of fabric to be dyed. As a rule of thumb, the pot should be large enough so that the entire cloth can be soaked in it
Step 4. Pour the brewed coffee into the pot
When you're done brewing the coffee, pour it into a pot of water.
Step 5. Bring your coffee mixture to a boil
When all the brewed coffee has entered the pot, boil the coffee/water until it boils. Immediately turn off the heat when the coffee is fully boiling.
Step 6. Put the cloth in the pan
Once the heat is out and the coffee is no longer bubbling, place the cloth in the pot until it's completely submerged. Stir a little so the fabric doesn't bubble.
It's a good idea to use a wooden spoon as the water has just stopped boiling. In this way, your equipment is not damaged and the risk of burns is prevented
Step 7. Soak your cloth
The longer the cloth is soaked in the coffee, the darker the color will be. It's best to wait an hour for good results. However, you can wait longer to get a darker color.
Step 8. Remove the cloth from the pan and rinse
Take your cloth from the coffee bath and rinse it in cold water. Do this until the rinse water looks clear, which indicates that there is no more coffee residue in the cloth.
- After the cloth is finished rinsing, you can see the color of the result clearly. If you still want to add darkness to the fabric, re-soak it in the coffee.
- When you are satisfied with the result, prepare a container that can hold all the fabric. Fill the container with cold water and soak a cloth in it. You can add vinegar and let it sit for 10 minutes to let the coffee settle on the cloth
Step 9. Clean your pan
After you finish dyeing the fabric, clean the pan thoroughly. Coffee can stain the pot if you don't empty and clean the pot immediately after you're done dyeing the fabric.
Step 10. Wash and dry the cloth gently
Use cold water, a mild detergent, and a delicate cycle in the washing machine. Fabrics can be tumble dried on the lowest setting, or dried in the shade.
The coffee color will not last long on the fabric because coffee is a natural dye. This means that the color will fade every time you wash it
Method 2 of 3: Using Coffee Ground
Step 1. Wash the fabric before soaking
The cloth to be soaked in coffee should be washed and dried first as usual. This will keep the fabric free of dirt and oil which can prevent the coffee from being properly absorbed by the fabric.
- You can wash the fabric with other clothes, or exclusively, as you wish.
- You should follow the washing instructions on the fabric label, if any.
Step 2. Brew the coffee
You will need coffee grounds to dye the fabric this way. So, it's best to use a French Press or a coffee maker.
- You'll need enough coffee grounds to be able to wipe the entire fabric you want to dye. Therefore, you may need several coffee pots.
- Choose a dark roast to give the fabric a darker color, or a light roast if you want a slightly lighter color.
- This is a great way to make the most of your coffee grounds. If you drink coffee every day, save used coffee grounds to use for dyeing fabrics.
Step 3. Make a paste using coffee grounds
When the pulp has cooled, put it in a large bowl and add water. Add one tablespoon of water per cup of coffee grounds.
Stir with a wooden spoon so that the water mixes evenly with the pulp. You just need to mix 7-8 times as the mixture doesn't need to be completely paste
Step 4. Spread the paste over the cloth
Spread the cloth on a dry, water-resistant surface. Make sure you fully cover and wipe the cloth with coffee grounds. You can use a wooden spoon or other similar utensil, or simply rub the pulp with your hands.
This process can be messy, so do it in an area where it can be soiled, such as a garage. You can also spread some newsprint to protect the floor or carpet
Step 5. Dry the cloth
Air your fabric in the shade. Wait for the cloth to dry completely, about a few hours to a day. You can also put the fabric in the dryer on a low setting for 30 minutes.
Do not expose the fabric to direct sunlight as the color will fade
Step 6. Clean the cloth from the coffee grounds
You can remove the coffee grounds from the fabric by hand, by brushing the cloth, or using a natural fibrous brush. If the color of the fabric is still not dark enough, feel free to repeat the process as desired.
Step 7. Iron your fabric, if needed
This way, your fabric doesn't wrinkle.
Before ironing, the fabric must be completely dry
Method 3 of 3: Dyeing Fabric with Tie-Dyeing
Step 1. Wash the cloth before soaking
The cloth to be soaked in coffee should be washed and dried first as usual. This will keep the cloth free of dirt and oil that can prevent the coffee from being properly absorbed.
- You can wash the fabric with other clothes, or exclusively, as you wish.
- You should follow the washing instructions on the fabric label, if any.
Step 2. Brew the coffee
The amount of coffee brewed depends on the level of darkness of the desired fabric color. Strong coffee will produce a darker color.
- If you want a darker color, increase the amount of coffee or use a dark/very strong roast. If you want a slightly lighter color, reduce the amount of coffee or use a light or medium roast.
- If you don't want to brew several cups of coffee at home, you can use instant or ready-to-drink coffee at a convenience store or coffee shop. However, the cost will also be higher.
Step 3. Allow the coffee to cool
You can place it in the refrigerator for 20 minutes, or just wait a few hours at room temperature.
Step 4. Pour the coffee into a squeeze bottle
This way, you can pour your coffee into certain areas without staining others.
Provide another squeeze bottle for the other types of roasts (for example, one bottle for the dark roast, and another bottle for the light roast)
Step 5. Divide the fabric into areas
You can twist the fabric and divide the related areas with a rubber band. This way you know where the fabric is going to be dyed and also prevents the coffee from getting too deep.
- Spread out your fabric.
- Place your finger in the center of the fabric, and rotate your finger and hand clockwise.
- The fabric will clump when you twist your finger. Try to rotate your fingers so that the fabric forms a circle, like a very wide and short cylinder, like a pie.
- When you're done, use a rubber band to divide the fabric into sections, as if you were dividing a pie into eight pieces.
Step 6. Color the desired area with coffee
Use a squeeze bottle to pour the coffee onto the cloth. You can use more coffee or dark coffee in certain areas to produce color combinations.
When you're done coloring the top, flip your fabric over and color the bottom
Step 7. Put the cloth in a sealable container
Depending on the size of the fabric, you can use a plastic container or a plastic bag that comes with a ziploc. Make sure the container or plastic bag is tightly closed and stored in a warm place for 24 hours.
If you dye a lot of fabric, use a plastic container. These containers come in a variety of sizes, from shoebox sizes to large enough to store kitchen utensils and other large items
Step 8. Rinse the cloth
Once the coffee has settled in the cloth, open the plastic bag or container and remove your cloth. Rinse thoroughly under a cold tap, until the rinse water is clear.
Tips
- Coffee is best used for dyeing natural fabrics, such as cotton or linen. Synthetic fibers will not be able to absorb coffee well.
- This process will produce a light to medium brown color. For a warmer, more reddish color, follow the steps above, but replace coffee with tea.
- Test first on a small, inconspicuous part of the fabric. This way, you can get the color you want without damaging the entire fabric.
Warning
- The coffee grounds method will be quite messy so it's a good idea to lay out a mat to protect the floor or carpet.
- The quality of the cloth will be reduced because it is rubbed with dregs. So, you should not use this method to maintain the durability of your fabric.
