Creating your own tie-dye may be fun and creative, but if your tie-dye starts bleeding, it can turn out to be an absolute failure, and no one wants that to experience. To avoid this from happening, you just need to see how to keep tie-dye from bleeding. Lucky you are, as we are here to share everything you need to know about stopping tie-dye from bleeding.
Why does it happen at all? It is imperative to find out if you do not want it to happen again. So, before we check how to stop bleeding, we are going to see why your tie-dye bleeds.
Why did my tie-dye bleed?
Tie-dye bleeds mean the colors start fading away. Only fading might be accepted, but the problem begins when the color transforms between other pieces of clothes in the load when you put it for a wash. It can happen due to several reasons, and if you know the cause, you are just one step away from finding the solution.
Clothes bleed and fade if you have used poor quality dye, have used the incorrect dying technique, or when overdyed, it can be anything. Moreover, not all dyes work best for all types of fabric, and therefore, the selection of the fabric and the dye also matter in this aspect.
Other than that, bleeding happens because of not following the instructions mentioned on the clothing label. You may have seen a warning sign or guidelines such as “do not use detergent,” or “do not bleach,” etc.; not following these guidelines may result in bleeding.
Furthermore, tie-dye bleeds or fades if you don’t leave it to dry completely after the dying process and wash it immediately. After you apply the dye, the fabric needs to be left for at least 20-24 hours to dry so that it absorbs the dye perfectly. Besides, not using soda ash may also cause tie-dye to bleed. Wants to know how soda ash helps here; check out what soda ash is for tie-dye.
How can you keep tie-dye from bleeding?
There is a solution to every problem, but how quickly you find it depends on you. Before you apply any unreliable solutions, below, you will find the right way to do the job.
Choose the right type of fabric
Tie-dye does not go well along with all types of fabric. Before you ruin your favorite piece of cloth, it is necessary to make sure that it is the right type. For tie-dye, the cotton fabric seems to work the best. It should be made of 100% mixture or at least 50% blend of it. If you are insisting on going for other types of fabrics, the result may not come what you expect.
Chose high-quality dye
After the choice of fabric comes the selection of dye. Poor quality dye is always going to put you in trouble. It’s no use crying over spilled milk if you deliberately choose the low-quality dye. If you are not sure about it, try dying on a piece of cloth that is of no use and is cheap. After seeing the results, you will know of its value.
Apply the right technique
There are various patterns and designs that you can achieve with tie-dye; it’s all about your imagination and creativity. But, not using the correct technique, not folding the fabric the right way, and not securing it with a rubber band all can affect the outcome. This is one of the reasons tie-dye bleeds, and you can avoid this by just being careful during the process and using the right procedure. Furthermore, make sure that you dye evenly.
Not to overdye
Dyed for too long or repeating the procedure for the second time, be aware that it might be the reason you are facing the bleeding issue. You might be doing this unintentionally. Too much or too little, both conditions can be unhelpful. Be careful next time and see how it goes.
Follow the product label
You will see a label on your shirt, pants, and on any other piece of the garment giving you instructions on what to do and what not to do. Not following these guidelines results in bleeding, and if you keep a check on it, it’s highly unlikely that you are going to face this issue.
Go gentle while washing
Too often, the tie-dye bleeds when you wash it with detergents or wash it hard. Use appropriate detergents for the type of fabric and try to minimize the friction as much as you can. Dye also bleeds due to the friction caused during the wash cycle.
Commercial dye fixatives
If there are no slips from your side and you are facing the issue, try using commercial dye fixatives that you can find online or from the nearest store. As the name suggests, dye fixatives help the dye absorb deeply in the fabric and hold them for long.
Conclusion
Tie-dying your garment is one of the most promising and adventurous things to do. You never know what design and colors it can fold into unless you have a lot of practice.
Whatsoever, tie-dying is fun, and it brings creativity out of your mind. But sometimes, it becomes problematic when you see the tie-dye bleeding. You can avoid this if you carry out the tie-dye process correctly using the quality dye, enacting the correct technique, and complying with other guidelines.
Keeping in mind these points will help you keep tie-dye from bleeding and will allow you to enjoy wearing your favorite tie-dye clothes for a long time.