Getting back to life after boredom or frustration is human nature. So when we see that our favorite denim jacket getting faded, we tend to dye it. We love to revive with our wearing.
Indeed, dyeing is a fantastic solution to give your garment a new life. Also, it increases the lifespan of a garment. And you would be glad to know that denim is an ideal item for dyeing as cotton-made stuff.
How to Dye Denim Jacket?
In this article, we will explain the necessary steps one by one. These will help you dye your denim jacket comfortably. Besides, since your jacket can be of any color, we will also illustrate how to dye denim any color with ease. Are you ready to jump down right?
Okay, then it’s time to move on!
Equipment You Will Need
Before all, you need to ensure a set of equipment to succeed in this job. These are as follows:
- Drop cloth
- Chlorine bleach
- Laundry detergent
- Protective apron
- Rubber gloves
Step One
Get your protective apron and rubber gloves. The following job is placing the drop cloths in the working space. Look, there might be spills. So it would help if you prepare a washing solution of one part chlorine bleach and one part water.
Step Two
Now, have some hot water to fill your washing machine with it. It would help best if you fill the machine in a medium setting for dyeing your denim jacket. It is the apt amount to deal with one piece of denim fabric. And remember, the jacket must have enough space for the sake of free movement in the water.
Step Three
This time, get 2 cups of hot water to dissolve 2/3 packages of powdered dye. Flood your washing machine with this. Are you going to use liquid dye? Then it would help if coursed 1 to 1/2 bottles into the washing machine.
Step Four
It’s time to soak the denim jacket in hot water. Please don’t forget to smooth out the folds before putting that in the washer.
Step Five
At this stage, you need to ensure a minimum of 30 minutes of agitation of that jacket in the machine. Then go to rinse.
Step Six
Now it’s time to have a cold-water rinse. So set the washing machine accordingly. You have to rinse it several times to wash it satisfactorily.
Step Seven
At this phase, employ a short cycle to wash the jacket. Use laundry detergent. Here you have to utilize a specific type of water for a specific color. It would help if you wash lighter colors in cold water and deep or dark colors in warm water. However, the rinsing should be in cold water.
Step Eight
This time, you need to dry your denim jacket. So hang. Alternatively, you may place it in the dryer. No issues.
Step Ten
Hey, you are closer to the end. Another wash cycle with hot water is urgent. Set your washing according to that. Do you want to know how to bleach jeans?
Well, for that, add one cup of chlorine bleach and laundry detergent into the machine. Then get closer to the soap dispenser and pour some of the wash water.
That’s it!
You better go through the clip below. It will give you a clearer vision. Here it is:
Now, get into the second part of our discussion. In this section, we will be dealing with different colors and affairs related to the dyeing of a denim jacket.
Can You Dye Bleached Denim?
Though it may take too much time, dyeing bleached denim is pretty much possible. Let not its complication frustrate you.
Before all, neutralize the bleach as soon as the bleached spots come into being. Feel free to rinse the bleached denim in cold water or use oxy bleach. Are the bleach spots small? Then it would help if you use a permanent marker to color in the bleached area.
The color of the spot and that of the rest of the denim may mismatch. Therefore, you can dye the entire garment too!
How To Dye Denim Black
Dyeing jeans black or dyeing denim black is trendy. Let’s see how to do it effectively!
Phase One
You need to pre-wash the denim in order to dye it black. It will thwart any chemical that may prevent dyeing.
Phase Two
Before washing, it is a must to know the weight of the denim. Why? The reason is- you will require a 1/2 bottle of liquid dye per pound of fabric.
Phase Three
Have some warm water to wet your denim. Then press out the excess. Following that, get 3 gallons of hot water to fill a bucket. The temperature should be at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step Four
Now it’s time to mix 1 cup of salt, the liquid dye, and a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid. Do you want lighter colors? Then add more water. Or do you want darker ones? Then add more dye. Simple.
Step Five
Place the denim item in the mixture for 20 minutes. Please don’t forget to cover it entirely. Then keep checking whether it achieved the intended color. If not, keep re-submerging till the desired outcome.
Step Six
Then remove the denim. Have some cold water to rinse it. Please don’t ignore to rinse until the water becomes clear. Afterward, have some warm water. Mix a mild detergent in it and let your denim dry.
Dye Denim With Coffee
Dyeing denim with coffee is not too much challenging. However, for the 2 bags of coffee grounds, you will have to find the right filter. It will be time-consuming.
Have some hot water to fill a 3 to 5-gallon bucket’s 3/4 part. Add the beans therein. Let the coffee brew for 15 to 20 minutes. Remember, it will be wise to apply a darker coffee for darker debris or stain.
Now, without spilling any of the dye, push your denim jeans entirely under the water. Then let it sit overnight. In the morning, put your garment into your washer, wash it, and dry it.
This is the way to get coffee-dyed jeans!
Dye Denim With Tea
You will find it quite similar to the process of the previous one. Have around 40 tea bags. Allow them to get soaked for approximately 15 minutes. Along with that, for the sake of a better dyeing process, boil the water until it gets hot or at least warm. Yeah, cold water will be useless here!
Else, washing jeans or other denim is also recommendable. How? Simple.
Prepare your tea. Then agitate in your denim so well that it properly immerses the mixture. Merely, a one-hour mixing will suffice. However, overnight mixing will help set the color far better!
To ensure this, dip your denim in cold water. Later on, get a mixture of vinegar and water and soak the denim for around 10 minutes. The color might seem too light. In that case, you will have to repeat the process to deepen the color. Finally, let the denim dry before ironing well.
Dye Denim With Rit
Apart from dyeing with tea or coffee, it is a fantastic method to dye your stuff. You will have your favorite color to dye out there.
Applying RIT dyes is beneficial from another point of view as well. RIT’s Colorstay dye fixative helps you cut down the bleeding and fading. And before washing the denim, it would help best if you used it immediately after dyeing.
The instructions on the package will ease your operation. Such an all-purpose dye is efficient for dyeing denim, provided that you have abide by the instructions end-to-end.
Can You Dye Denim With Food Coloring?
Do you use your product on Angora or wool? Then you can expect the best result from the use of food coloring! Since experts use plant fibers to create denim, a reactive dye can work well.
You come up with a temporary color change at the time of employing food coloring on denim. Yeah, you can rinse it fast too. However, you may avoid food coloring as a dye to skip any embarrassing situation in advance.
How To Dye Denim Darker
You can do it. Simply. For every pound of fabric, get one bottle of dye. The more you add dye, the more you make denim colors darker.
There is another way. In that approach, you will have to put the denim in the dyeing mixture for a long time. A ‘prolonged dyeing time’ helps the mixture gets set in into the fibers better. As a result, you can come up with the darkness you want.
Also, at the time of dyeing, you can easily have a look to see the level of darkness. Remember, if it gets too dark, you will find it difficult to lighten the fabric! So it will be wise to check through several intervals.
Can You Dye Denim White?
Yes, dear, you can! However, if you want the best outcome, choose denim that is yet to have any indigo and is in its raw state! In such a condition, you can easily dye denim white.
Do you know that raw denim features an off-white color? Moreover, for example, it cannot turn blue unless its manufacturer uses blue indigo dyes!
For dyeing denim white, it would help best if you go for bleaching. It will ensure something closer to a white color. Get a spray bottle, insert bleach, and blend.
Afterward, keep spraying. You will find an immediate color change. Then have some cold water to rinse it. Finally, add vinegar for the sake of neutralizing the bleach. That’s it!
Dye Denim Brown
Let’s say you want to dye your denim jacket brown. The good thing is- the dyeing processes are not different.
In this case, you have to discover the original color. The brown color is a combination of blue and red. Now, for example, if you intend to dye blue-colored denim, you may try them without any hesitation!
On the other hand, you may escape a straight brown color in the case of coloring white or faded denim. And please, do not expect an identical outcome. The results of such dyeing experiments always differ to some extent.
Dye Denim Purple
Dye colors are see-through. Here you will get the combination of the dye color and the blue in the fabric. It would help if you add a reddish-purple color of dye to achieve purple.
However, you need to go through several trial and error experiences in dyeing since it is not a precise method to gain a specific denim color. So you had better know in advance which mixed colors can provide you with a third color. Then the trials are up to you!
Dyeing Denim Red
Let’s imagine you want to dye your blue denim jacket with red color. Then this might not be a good idea, to be honest. You may get a weird-looking jacket in the end! Why?
The reason is- the indigo dyes feature a purple or lavender undertone.
And usually, the end color is a combination of the dye color and the original denim color. Therefore it would help best if you applied a red color dye on white denim. Thus, you can come up with a satisfactory outcome.
Where Can I Dye Denim?
You will have a number of locations to dye your denim jacket. This flexibility eases the whole process. Here is one thing you need to ensure. You have to cover the parts that are NOT intended for re-coloring with old materials. Else, you have to use a movable water bucket. Alternatively, you can use the sink in your kitchen or laundry room, or even the bathtub.
It is good to have a spacious location, mind it.
Apart from this, you may employ a washing machine to do this job. Here chances of getting a mess are very low. So you can regard this as the easiest location too.
How To Get Denim Dye Out Of Clothes?
There might be a mistake. You could mistakenly dye other fabric. Then what to do in such a situation?
No worries, you will get a number of stain removers in the markets out there. Here we present a list of one of the best stain removers for 2022:
- OxiClean White Revive Stain Remover
- OxiClean Color Boost Stain Remover Paks
- Shout Wipe and Go Portable Towelettes
- Tide To Go Instant Stain Remover
- Shout Spray and Wash Stain Remover
- Better Life Natural Stain & Odor Eliminator
- Downy Dreft Pretreater Portable Stain Pen
First, apply your selected stain remover. Make your garment entirely clean. Then have some warm water to rinse and wash.
And do you want to remove the dyed color too? Perhaps you know how to bleach jeans or a jacket. But instead of using bleach, we recommend dye color remover. Everything will be alright!
Best Clothes Dye for Denim
Your jacket might be of different materials. Are all of them will be suitable for dyeing? What do you think? Better have a transparent idea on this!
Generally, in order to alter the denim material color, you need a reactive dye. You will have all-purpose dyes available around you. Experts suggest testing both- commercial dyes and branded dyes. However, it will be wise to use a branded one that dissolves well in water and is beautifully usable in your washing machine.
Is Denim Dye Toxic?
To create a nice blue denim color, professionals employ some indigo dyes. The dyes derive from synthetic elements. And these elements need the presence of lye. Here ‘lye’ works as the active ingredient. And yes, it can be highly toxic!
Therefore every manufacturer should clarify whether their dye comprises toxicity or not, no matter if it is commercial or not. For example, Oeko-Tex Standard 100 dye is a low-impact dye. Such a dye does not contain toxic chemicals or mordants. Therefore, you will find it safe to dye your denim fabric. Also, we can exemplify RIT dyes. It does not use toxic ingredients too.
And please, before you purchase, don’t forget to go through the labels. There are some brands that employ toxic elements. Such elements help secure a better outcome!
Where To Buy Denim Dye?
Denim dyes are as available as fabrics. However, a brand may not be available everywhere, unlike a commercial dye. You had better search for them in the big box stores. You will find them affordable. Apart from that, local department stores sell these items.
And when you have search engines like Google, Amazon, or Walmart, you don’t need to worry that much, agree?
Can Denim Dye Rub Off?
Yes, it can. One of the core causes of rubbing is- friction. Think about the stuff that you get engaged. In a day, we come into close contact with chairs, sofas, different people, and so on. These compel your denim jacket or jeans to rub off.
Although, it’s pretty well that the toxic ingredients cannot harm human skin as most denim dyes lie on the denim’s surface.
However, a dye in the vinegar helps achieve something sustainable.
And some dyes are in no way durable for long, no matter how you produce them. For example, the food coloring dyes rub off faster and get wet!
Caution
A dye can impact your washing machine. It can not only discolor rubber but also plastic parts. The chances are high that fabric dye will put permanent stains on fiberglass sinks or plastic.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Question: Can denim be dyed?
Answer: Denim is such a cotton fabric that contains Cellulose fibers. These fibers are easy to dye.
Question: Can you dye denim green?
Answer: For instance, you try a yellow dye on blue denim. It will turn that into a green one. And it would help if you use a Dylon pre-dye to lighten while dyeing dark denim.
Question: Can you bleach denim?
Answer: Of course, a mixture of regular bleach and water can provide you with the desired color.
Question: How do you set dye?
Answer: Have one gallon of fresh, clean water. Pour it on a large cleaning bucket or mixing bowl. Add one cup vinegar and one-fourth cup table salt therein to set the dye into your garment. That’s it!
Question: Is dye fixative necessary?
Answer: The use of fiber-reactive dyes is helpful. It works as a better alternative to Rit Dye Fixative while tie-dyeing. Now rest is up to you.
Question: What colors bleed in the wash?
Answer: The red-colored fabric has a greater tendency to bleed than other colored fabrics. The chemical makeup of direct dye reacts with the red-colored fiber and results in this.
Question: How do you stop Rit dye from bleeding?
Answer: Using the Rit ColorStay Dye Fixative after dyeing becomes urgent. To stop bleeding, you have to use it before rinsing and laundering to deal with dye cotton, ramie, wool, linen, or silk. And for the rest types of fabrics, you need to rinse them in warm water, then in cooler water. It is the rule.
Question: Can I use vinegar to set Rit dye?
Answer: There is no point in using vinegar to dye cotton. Rit is an all-purpose dye. So you cannot benefit from vinegar to set the Rit dye. Only a commercial dye fixative can help you in this regard.
Question: Can you dye fabric after bleaching it?
Answer: Dyeing fabric after bleaching is all about the removal of damage. No, you cannot remove damage caused by bleach. The reason is- a bleach stain is itself a type of permanent discoloration and removal of fabric dye.
Question: What happens when you bleach-colored clothes?
Answer: Bleaching colored clothes is a sheer mistake. It removes color from fabric and becomes a cause of fading. Also, it leaves white stains on your garment.
Question: Why does bleach affect different dyes in different ways?
Answer: Some colors such as green, orange, purple are mixtures of two different colors. If you add bleach to this type of solution, any of the colors will react faster with the hypochlorite than the other one. That’s the reason one of the colors vanishes and the other remains.
Question: How long does it take to bleach a jean jacket?
Answer: First of all, you have to ensure that it is covered end-to-end. Such covering will prevent a light, dark, and patchy outcome. Before you check the fade extension, leave your jacket for around 5 to 10 minutes. You can add some more minutes to ensure further fading.
Question: Will hot water fade jeans?
Answer: Yes, the use of hot water fades your denim. And you may wonder to know warm water does almost the same! It compels denim to expand and then shrink. You cannot avoid this loss as a hot or warm bath is a must for denim.
Question: How can I fade my jean jacket without bleach?
Answer: Have one cup of distilled white vinegar plus eight cups of water. Fill up a bucket or bowl. Soak your jean jacket for the whole night. Then have a wash. Afterward, let that dry in a sunbath. Such a treatment can give you a softer texture.
Question: Does cold water prevent color bleeding?
Answer: It would help best if you wash your dark-colored and light-colored clothes in cold water separately. The use of cold water prevents color bleeding to a large extent.
Question: Do colors bleed in hot or cold water?
Answer: Yeah, colors bleed in hot water, but most clothes can sustain warm water. Without a substantial fading or shrinking, it cleans better. It would help if you use cold water (80°F) for dark or bright colors. The use of cold water is eco-friendly as it saves energy!
Question: How do you activate Rit dye?
Answer: Well, before all, cover the pot. Then keep heating water on the stove. The heat level should be below boiling. In the case of using powder dye, you need to heat the water very high to dissolve it. Alternatively, you may use well-shaken liquid dye. Then pour the liquid dye or powder dye when water starts simmering. It will help you get a perfect mixture. Finally, dip a paper towel into the dyebath to check the color.
The Ending Thoughts
Hopefully, you have secured a robust concept about dyeing denim jackets and many more from this single article! Now no one can stop you from increasing your denim life. Happy dyeing!
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