Using food coloring is an easy and affordable way to color your own clothes at home, using either the standard or tie dye method. Coloring clothes can also be a fun activity that is great to do alone, or with family and friends. Set up a work area outdoors on a sunny day, or indoors for dyeing clothes. Choose the clothes you want to color, protect the work area with unused towels, and get ready to create colorful clothes with original designs!
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Method 1 of 3: Coloring Clothes One Color
Step 1. Choose woolen clothing if you want the color to last
Protein fibers such as wool, cashmere, and silk can lock in color for a long time. Cotton clothes also hold colors well, but they usually fade more quickly over time.
You can still dye clothes that have faded
Step 2. Line the work area with an unused towel and collect all the equipment in one place
Use towels or sheets that can be soiled. You'll also need a large plastic bowl, vinegar, water, and a variety of food coloring options. Keep all your equipment in one place so you don't have to go around looking for the materials you need with dirty hands.
There are several techniques for removing food coloring stains. However, it's best if you don't get as much dirt on other items as possible
Step 3. Soak the clothes in a mixture of water and vinegar (1:1 ratio) for 30 minutes
Place the clothes in the bowl first, then add equal proportions of water and vinegar until completely submerged. For balance, use a measuring cup with a volume of approximately 240 ml to add each ingredient, one at a time.
- By pre-soaking the garment, the fabric will absorb the dye better than when you dip the garment directly into the water and food coloring mixture.
- You can dye the clothes without soaking them first, but the colors won't look so sharp and bright.
Step 4. Dip the clothes into the water and food coloring mixture after soaking them in the vinegar mixture
Discard the water and vinegar mixture, then wring the clothes. After that, prepare 710-950 ml of water (or more, depending on the size or thickness of the clothes) and 10-15 drops of food coloring. Combine the water and dye in a large bowl, then add the wrung clothes into the new mixture.
If you're worried that the color of your clothes is too dark, add a few drops of dye first, and then add more dye until you get the color you want
Step 5. Mix two or more dyes to create different colors
Most food coloring packages have 4 basic color options, namely blue, green, red, and yellow. Mix red and blue to create purple. If you want orange, mix red with yellow. To make a pretty cyan color, mix green with blue. Experiment with food coloring and water to get the perfect color for your outfit.
If your package of food coloring comes in white or black, use both colors to lighten or darken the mixed color and get the tone you want
Step 6. Soak the clothes in a mixture of water and food coloring for 10-20 minutes
Use a long-handled spoon to push the clothes to the bottom of the bowl so that they are completely submerged. Stir the garment every few minutes to allow the dye to penetrate the fabric. You can also put on rubber gloves and manually adjust or change the position of the clothes every few minutes.
After 10-20 minutes, the water will appear clearer than before as the dye is absorbed into the fabric
Step 7. Put the clothes in a sealed plastic bag for at least 8 hours
Squeeze the clothes after they are soaked in the water and dye mixture, then put each item in a sealed plastic bag and store it somewhere. It doesn't matter if the clothes are kept for more than 8 hours.
When clothes are stored in sealed bags, the paint will react with the fabric faster so you can get a brighter, longer-lasting color look
Method 2 of 3: Coloring with the Tie-Dye Technique
Step 1. Choose clothes made of protein fiber so that the color lasts longer
Use wool, cashmere, or silk for a more durable finish, depending on your craft project. Fabrics like these are made from animals, and food coloring gets into the fibers of these fabrics better than other types of fabrics such as cotton, linen, and synthetic fibers.
If you have clothes you want to color, but don't have protein fiber, that's fine! You can still color it. However, keep in mind that colors on clothes can fade or fade faster
Step 2. Use cotton clothing for lighter color options (but fade faster over time)
Cotton clothes can be dyed with food coloring, but the colors won't be as intense and will fade more easily. However, if you want to get a lighter color look, cotton clothes can be a good choice.
Rub salt on cotton clothes if you want a lighter color. In addition, there are also several techniques that can be followed to maintain the color of the fabric after the clothes are dyed
Step 3. Protect the work area using an unused towel
Before dyeing clothes, cover the work area with a towel or sheet that is okay if it gets stained. There are several methods for removing spilled food coloring stains, but it's best if you can prevent "incidents" in the first place.
You'll also need to wear old clothes and tie your hair back before starting this craft project
Step 4. Mix 240 ml of water in the bottle with 6-8 drops of dye
Use plastic bottles for each color you want to use, and fill each bottle with 240 ml of water and at least 6 drops of food coloring. You can add more dye if you want a darker tone. Put the cap back on, shake the bottle, and set it aside until it's ready to use later.
If the bottle doesn't have a nozzle, you can make a spare nozzle for the dye-binding process by punching holes in the cap with a tacks after the bottle is filled with paint. This way, you can squeeze the bottle and distribute the color in more control
Step 5. Soak the clothes in a mixture of water and vinegar (1:1 ratio) for 30 minutes
Put the clothes in a bowl, then add enough water and vinegar to cover the entire garment. You may need water and vinegar, 450-900 ml each, depending on the size of the bowl or container you're using.
By pre-soaking the garment in the vinegar-water mixture, the fabric can absorb the dye better
Step 6. Attach rubber bands to different parts of the garment to create different patterns
After soaking for 30 minutes, wring out the clothes and prepare them for the dyeing process. Attach or tie rubber bands to different parts of your outfit, or try some of these unique designs:
- Twist the garment into a spiral and attach two rubber bands to the garment in an "X" pattern to make a spiral pattern.
- Roll the garment into a roller shape, then attach the rubber bands spaced apart to create a striped pattern.
- Take or pinch a piece of clothing, then attach a rubber band to that area to create a star explosion pattern.
- Create random patterns by squeezing the garment and attaching an elastic band to whatever section you want.
Step 7. Apply the paint to some parts of the clothes
In general, you can create a comprehensive look by coloring one section with one color, then switching to another color for the next section. However, feel free to experiment and mix colors or use several paints on one piece.
- You will need to wear rubber gloves at this stage as food coloring can get your hands dirty.
- Don't forget to color the sides of the clothes.
- For easier use, place clothes that have been tied or have rubber bands on them on a baking sheet to prevent paint from spilling out and contaminating other items.
Step 8. Put the dyed clothes in a sealed plastic bag for at least 8 hours
Once colored, place each garment in a separate sealed plastic bag and store for at least 8 hours.
It doesn't matter if you let your clothes sit longer than 8 hours. However, at least make sure the clothes are stored in plastic bags for a minimum period of time
Method 3 of 3: Locking the Dye to the Fabric Fibers and Caring for the Clothes
Step 1. Place the clothes in a bowl of cold water and table salt
After 8 hours have passed, remove the clothing from the sealed plastic bag. Fill a bowl with cold water and add 1-2 tablespoons (15-30 grams) of table salt. Dip the garment into the brine mixture and press it into the bottom of the bowl until it is completely submerged. Soak the clothes for about 5 minutes.
This is a quick and easy step to lock the dye into the fabric fibers. Read microwave and grill methods for stronger color locking methods
Step 2. Use a microwave to produce sharper, brighter colors
The heat from the microwave will react with the dye so that the color of the fabric looks brighter. In addition, this process also helps to lock the dye into the fabric fibers. Just put a bowl of water, salt and clothes in the microwave, and cover it with plastic wrap. Punch a few holes in the plastic wrap, and heat the bowl on low for about 2 minutes.
Let the clothes cool down before you handle them. You can also use tongs to remove the clothes from the bowl
Step 3. Bake the clothes in a mixture of water and citric acid to lock in the dye
Pour water into the short pan until it is half filled, then add 60 ml of citric acid. Stir until the citric acid dissolves, then soak the clothes in the pan. Preheat the oven to 150°C and bake the clothes for 30 minutes. Wait for the water and clothes to cool before you touch them with your bare hands.
You can buy citric acid in the baking and baking products section of your grocery store
Step 4. Rinse the clothes with cold water until the rinse water is clear
Regardless of the method chosen, always rinse clothes that have been washed in cold water. At first, the rinse water will appear colored. However, the water will appear clear afterwards. At this stage, the dye has penetrated the fabric fibers and will not fade.
If you lock the dye onto the fibers using a microwave or oven, make sure the garment is cool to the touch before rinsing to avoid burning the skin on your hands
Step 5. Dry the clothes to dry, and do not use the dryer
The heat from the machine can fade the color on the first stain. Therefore, hang clothes and hang them in the sun to dry them.
Do not stretch clothes on a flat surface. If there is still some dye remaining, it can stain the surface
Step 6. Wash clothes separately from other clothes for the first 2-3 laundry
While the color-locking process helps prevent paint from smudging, there's still a chance that the color will fade from the fabric. Therefore, wash clothes separately so that the dye doesn't get on or stain other clothes.
If you have several clothes of the same color, you can wash them at the same time
Step 7. Wash the dyed clothes in cold water to prevent the paint from smudging
After you've washed your clothes 2-3 times, keep using cold water to prevent the paint from splattering from the fabric and preserving the color's longevity. Put the clothes in the washing machine along with other clothes that need to be washed in cold water. That way, you can wash your clothes without worry.
You can use regular laundry detergent to wash clothes that have been dyed. Detergent or soap will not change or fade color
Step 8. Repaint the clothes as the color fades over time
One of the advantages of coloring clothes with food coloring is that you can easily touch-up them. Simply repeat the staining process to darken the appearance of faded clothing colors.
Keep in mind that you can also dye old or stained clothes to make them look like new
Tips
- You can color different types of clothes with food coloring. Socks, shirts, shorts, headbands, singlets or tank tops, and white or neutral leggings can be the right outfit choices.
- If you get food coloring on your hands, clean them with a washcloth soaked in vinegar to remove the stain. You can also make a paste of baking soda and water if vinegar doesn't work.
