Don’t know if this is the right community for this, but I have some nice linen and cotton button down shirts that range from minorly (unevenly) yellowed to rather noticeably so. I’m currently trying to sun bleach them, but if some of them are too far gone, I’ve heard that dyeing shirts can breathe new life into them. What exactly would be the best way to go about that?
Dyeing is pretty straightforward. Soak it in dye mixed with water for 24 hours and wash it gently afterwards.
You’re going to need a bucket or other large container, because you’ll probably need your sink in the meantime.
Purchased dye works great but it costs money and might have chemicals. A usual batch of dye can color a whole lot of clothes, so you’re in luck if you already have more than just one shirt to do. Once open, it’s difficult to store for later.
If you want a DIY non-toxic dye, you can simply use coffee for a light tan shade, or blended beetroot for red color. Lots of other options, but they will be more light than purchased dye. Natural dyes also won’t last as long in washing, but it’s a fun experiment to make your own. Same procedure. Mix it in boiling water and check that the fabric can withstand the heat (no knitwear). Otherwise let it sit for longer in colder water.
Check the polyester percentage as well. You can’t dye plastic.
To make patterns you can simply hang the clothes over the dye mixture and only drop dye the parts you want. The edges will likely not be very straight, but if you draw the lines up with a black marker afterwards it can look really cool still. You can also make the hippie tie-dye using rubber bands to separate the areas. I’m not really a fan of that look, but I’m not going to judge anyone for looking like a stoner. I much prefer to color the whole thing, because it’s easier and looks better in my opinion.
If you just wanted it to be white again, you can do the same with bleach, but keep in mind that it’s toxic, smells like a swimming pool and bad for the environment. Bleach might be better to do in the washing machine to keep the smell contained. Don’t put other dyes in the washer - that won’t work well.
Thank you for such a detailed response! The sunbleaching was quite effective for one of them, but I’m excited to dye the other two shirts I have with whatever plants and colors I can find. Why waste perfectly good cotton and linen
Here’s the result! Used a mixture of tumeric, paprika, cumin, and Chaya leaves. Basically made a soup lol
Wow. That looks great. Very vivid color.
Dyeing can definitely bring some clothes back, if you are okay with them being darker.
There are two ways to go about this:
- The standard way. You buy a dye, such as black or navy, from a store, usually a crafts store or big-box store.
- The natural way. You use the same process, but with a natural substance For example, crops with tannins, like tea or coffee, will give a shirt a nice, cream-brown color, although a little more uneven.
You fill a large basin with hot water and salt, and then add your dye and shirt, depending on the weight of the clothing. Then, you wring it out and let it dry, and wash it until the water runs clear.
As far as bleaching, you would have to research that. It seems to be more perilous than dyeing.
