1. Home
  2. Quilting Forum
  3. OT:Setting Blue Dye in Jeans

OT:Setting Blue Dye in Jeans

Hello all. Need some help.

Our son was over for dinner the other night and he has a new pair of jeans. They have been washed several times and the blue dye is still coming off on his hands, especially if his hands get wet and he rubs them on his pants. His other pair, same type and bought at the same time, are just fine. What can we tell him to do to set the dye, or get it all washed out or something?

Thanks

PS. Will post soon, pictures and a list of all the sewing and quilting I've accomplished over spring break. Quilting can be such a stress release.

Steven Alaska

Reply to
Steven Cook
Loading thread data ...

Unless they are seriously cheap, bleeding and crocking (the dye rubbing off) in jeans is usually excess dye. Lots and lots of excess dye.

You can wash them several times with a dye magnet or equivalent. Or you can wash them a couple of times and then try Retayne. Retayne basically makes the excess dye particles fat so they stick in the fibers. When the fabric becomes a bit worn the jeans will likely start bleeding again, but much less noticeably.

Is it my imagination or are boughten clothes being more of a problem in this regard? I got a pair of flannel jammies and a cotton blouse for Christmas and both items are still crocking badly after numerous washes with synthrapol. The jammies are a print too, I wear them and my hands, feet, and face turn red. The parts of me that are in contact with the unprinted side are safe from ruddy contamination. I noticed DD3 turning purple, and Ash turning green when they wear certain shirts too.

NightMist

Reply to
NightMist

Granny had a solution ( sorry ) for that. It seems like you dissolve a cup of salt in a bucket of water and soak the jeans overnight. I'm sure we used a plastic bucket. I remember being very surprised at the amount of blue (indigo maybe but dyeing is not my field) that leached out. It may have taken 2 or 3 soaks to get the deed done. We were on a camping trip in the Smokey Mtns. Horseback riding in the rain, of course. Turned blue. Quite a sight. I remember the brand of the jeans was Levi's. That was back in the days when the boys were terrible brand name snobs. Polly

Reply to
Polly Esther

A very long time ago, in high school, Madras shirts were the fashion and we had to soak them overnight in a salt solution to stop most of the bleeding. Maybe the salt would help your runny jeans. Bucket of water, 2 or 3 gal., plus 1 C salt. Barbara in FL

Reply to
Bobbie Sews More

Thanks

I will pass on the ideas so he can choose which one he wants to try.

Yes, I had some red and white checked flannel pajamas once that Mom made me. And blue flannel sheets. Well, the sheets turned purple and even after several very strong bleachings, the red still was coming out. They been really good rags over the years.

Steven Alaska

Reply to
Steven Cook

InspirePoint website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.