Although I am definitely NOT a Domestic Goddess, I am very good with the laundry & there is rarely a stain, mark, odour or problem that beats me.
But, I'm stumped with this one & so I reach out to anyone who can help me...
I have a fabric that I plan to use for a very special project. Being that it's a dark colour - my best description is that it's a dark-violet sort of colour - I decided to hand wash it before using it.
Well, oh my goodness, there's a lot of colour in the washing water, it ends up looking like mid-strength blackcurrant juice! It's now in the laundry basin for the third time.
I'm only using a tiny bit of wash liquid, I agitate it in that solution for about 5 minutes, then I'm rinsing twice... each time using lots of water.
I'm not sure that 'Colour Catcher' sheets are the answer; my understanding is that they're designed for stopping colour from one item going into another item of different colour, not for actually setting the colour into a fabric to stop it running/bleeding altogether.
I've looked around online for information, but there is so much conflicting info, & any suggested products are not available here in Aus anyway.
I really don't want to resort to buying another fabric; I will only do that if I absolutely cannot remedy this situation.
Please if you can give me any advice with this I would be eternally grateful... I really need to be totally confident with it before I use it in my project.
PS: Yes I do also wear my heels when hanging the washing!
23 comments:
Try using white vinegar in the water to set colour then rinse. Sometimes I cut a small sample to see if it works that way don`t loose too much dye out of fabric.
Salt in the washing water
No laundry advice, but I want to see your heels!
Salt and vinegar are the only things I know of that supposed to stop set fabric dyes.
Good luck Anthea..
Julia ♥
ditto vinegar - just keep washing it til no colour runs - try some warm water too. Hope you can rid it of the dye and use it. Sounds like a gorgeous colour.
Of course you wear heels to do the laundry - doesn't everyone??? LIke you put on a pretty dress and do your makeup before your husband gets home from work!!
Hi Anthea I use salt to set my colours,good luck with your fabric.xx
Good luck
I have used both salt and vinegar but find colour catchers are the best. In fact some fabrics you have to use a colour catcher EVERYtime you wash it. Blues are the worst. Good luck.
I'm no help. I'm not the domestic goddess. Cooking and ironing is pretty much all I do.
Lots of good suggestions there Anthea! Good job you tested that fabric first...I've used salt before to help set dyes when dyeing...here's a link to some other mordants (chemicals that help set dyes) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mordant#Common_dye_mordants
I have used salt to set colour in denim. Interesting about vinegar, it seems to be good for all types of things. Sharyn:)
if it's a very special project i would be very worried it would ruin it when you wash it with that much stain coming out.........I would throw it.......
I don't usually prewash fabrics.....
normally when I wash a new quilt I include a about a 1/2 to 1 cup vinegar and 1/4 to 1/2 salt and a colour catcher or 2 if I think it could be bad.............
goodluck
When I have tea dyed some fabric, it was advised to use a bit of water and white vinegar to set the colour. So I would be you, I would do this, water and white vinegar to set the colour.
I'd definitely give the vinegar a go, it has worked for me in the past. Good luck.
I always use salt and vinegar to stop color bleed...I know there are chemicals you can buy for this, but I have always just used what was on hand and it works...try a small test piece first and then go from there...hope you find a solution to your problem of dye bleed...
Hi Anthea I also use salt to set , good luck.
yea, I use the salt aswell but have only done so in small things like thread.... I would seriously consider a different fabric??????
Hugz
Hi Anthea, when I was making my great-nephews quilt I had a red fabric that bled. I purchased a product called Syntrapol and it worked. People who dye their own fabrics use it to set the dye. Hopefully you can buy it there.
I hope these bits of advice help you Anthea... I will be interested to see what you end up dong and if it helps.
Well, salt definitely sounds like its worth a try - lots of votes for that one. When I dye with procion dyes I use metapex/syntrapol as Rose mentioned. I used this to wash some patchwork that I belatedly discovered had one red fabric than ran and it worked a treat. Good luck but if in doubt buy something else - not worth wasting the time and effort if it will be ruined by one wash. xx
I was also going to suggest salt.
I use vinegar to help dye take to fibre. But that would involve a cup of vinegar to 9 ltrs of water and slow boil for 15 mins and let sit until water cold. Next day rinse in cold water. But that could just be too much for fabric.
http://www.ehow.com/way_5179113_laundry-tips-color-bleeding.html
Salt and vinegar seem to be suggested a lot. I've never actually tried it, though I do use vinegar in my fabric softener slot in every load of washing.
And then there are sites that say that salt or vinegar aren't effective.
http://laundry.about.com/u/sty/laundryproblems/Your-Laundry-Questions-And-Answers/How-to-Prevent-Color-Bleeding-in-Clothes.htm
http://laundry.about.com/od/laundryproblems/f/How-Can-I-Stop-Fabric-From-Bleeding-Dye-Stop-Clothes-Dye-Bleeding.htm
I really love my colour catchers, so I'd suggest pre washing the fabric in cold water, making your quilt and then use colour catchers every time you wash the quilt.
Not very helpful is it!
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