How to Wash Tie-Dye T-Shirts So They Won't Fade

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First you agonized about how to position the rubber bands and what colors to use, and now that you have a finished shirt, you're nervous about washing tie-dye for the first time. For a fun and simple DIY project, using a tie-dye kit to make your own trendy tie-dye projects can be surprisingly stressful. It's good to be cautious about how you wash your tie-dye shirts; dyed fabric fades quickly when washed incorrectly. The groovy new addition to your wardrobe might still fade gradually over time, but there are a few things you can do to keep the colors vibrant for as long as possible.

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Washing Tie-Dye for the First Time

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Even if your shirt is made of cotton, which is prone to shrinking when exposed to high temperatures, it's advisable to use hot water when washing tie-dye for the first time. Just like the heat of the dryer sets stains in fabrics, hot water will help set the dye in your T-shirt.

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Hot water will also wash out any excess dye so the shirt doesn't bleed onto other fabrics during future washings. Because that excess dye will stain other garments, put the T-shirt in the washing machine alone when you're washing tie-dye for the first time or wash it by hand. (If you dyed a few T-shirts at the same time using the same shades of dye, you can wash them together.)

Ideally, you'll want to use a detergent made for dyed fabric for the first few washes of your freshly dyed T-shirt. Your regular detergent is also fine in a pinch. You may want to wash the shirt on its own in hot water a few times to make sure all the excess dye is gone before washing it with other garments.

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Tip

If you're tie-dying your own shirt, take steps during the dying process to ensure colorfastness. Some people soak tie-dye in vinegar at the end of the dying process. You can also soak freshly tie-dyed T-shirts in dye fixative, which is specifically designed to reduce fading and bleeding in dyed garments.

Washing Tie-Dye Shirts Over and Over

After you've gotten out any excess dye during the first few washings, tie-dye T-shirts should always be washed in cold water to prevent fading. Use your washing machine's gentlest cycle or make a habit of washing dyed T-shirts by hand to protect them from the agitation of the washing machine. It's OK to wash dyed shirts with regular detergent.

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Drying Tie-Dye Shirts

The best way to dry tie-dye shirts is generally air-drying them. It's not a disaster if you're too crunched for time and have to toss your dyed T-shirt in the dryer, but repeatedly drying shirts this way may speed up fading. (Always turn dyed T-shirts inside out before putting them in the dryer and use the lowest heat setting.)

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Line drying tie-dye shirts and other garments on a sunny day isn't advisable either. Prolonged sun exposure may fade your dyed garments faster than anything else will. Line dry tie-dye fabrics indoors or outdoors in the shade.

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