Home » Dyeing Problem FAQ
Why did the colour turn out much lighter than I wanted?
- It could be a case of using not enough product. Using too littledye will makelighter colours. It is important touse enough Tintexfor yourfabric contentand dry fabric weight. Double the usual amount for darker or brighter colours (example: black or royal blue). Get more fabric dyeing tips.
- Use one 55g box Tintex box dyes 1-pound (454g), of cotton, linen, silk, spandex & viscose; Use two 55gboxes (110g) dyes1-pound (454g), of nylon, acetate, rayon & wool
Dyeing needs to be done long enough andfabric needs to be constantly moved around in the dye bath. Fabric may need anywhere from 20-60 minutes to achieve the darkest or brightest colour. For brighter colours be sure to use hot enough water (ex: heat water to140°F with a kettle).
Follow fabric care label and adjust water temperature as needed for delicate materials. The stove-top method produces more intense colour results (ex: dye bath is heatedforthe duration of the DIYproject). Whentie dyeing, you can wrap your dyeing project in plastic wrap and set aside for a few hours or overnight.
Fabric needs to be clean and damp before applying dye.Special finishes can effect how a fabric takes dye; prints may not dye either. Fabric must be compatible with our product;100% polyester or 100% acrylic fabric are not suitable for Tintex and will dye very light or not at all.
Why doesmydyed fabriclookblotchy, uneven or have tiny specks of other colours showing through?
If the dye powder wasn't dissolved properly with very hot water (example: use a kettle or microwave) before you applied it to your material you may haveundesired results.
- For your next sample, ensure that all of the powder has been dissolved before dyeing (ex: use a clear measuring cup to mix the hot water & dye powder).
- Usea different technique that uses heated water that can stay 140 Fahrenheit/60 Celsius for the duration of dyeing (ex: the stove-top method is the best for getting deep/bright colours).
If your fabric was not agitated (moved around) enough in the dye bath the material can be blotched or striped. If the fabric wasn't completely covered in the dye bath the results may end upuneven.
- While dyeing times may vary from 20-60 minutes,the material must always still be completely covered in the dye bath (this is not necessary for ombre or dip dyeing techniques).
Occasionally, special finishes or prints can interfere with dyeing results and stop theabsorption of Tintex. For best results, wash fabric before (avoid fabricsoftener) even if your fabric is 'new'. Unfortunately, there are some cases where materialmay not dyed using a home process.
Will using fabric dye help cover a bleach mark on my fabric?
Bleached or lighter areas may still appear lighter than the entire article, even after piece dyeing. You could spot treat fabric or trytolighten the entire article before piece dyeing the fabric. If possible,try and lighten your fabric evenlyusing the product that created the spot in the first place (or try Colour Remover). If you decide to use Colour Remover, you must make sure all of the bleach is removed from the fabric; wash thoroughly to prepare and follow package or website directions.
Will using fabric dye help me cover a fabric stain?
Stains may dye darker then the rest of the article if the stain isn't removedpriorto dyeing. It is ideal to wash the fabric before dyeing. Colour Remover may also lighten stains as it lightens the fabric to prepare for dyeing.
How do I make the colour darker or brighter?
Using extra dye with very hot water for a prolonged period (60 minutes) will helpincrease the depth or brightness of your preferred colour. Double the usual amount for darker or brighter colours.
