dye in front loader?

Never done it, myself. But I found this using Google

Of course, I also found a caveat, here "This bellows assembly around the door is the source of problems for the consumer front-loader. The bellows has a large number of flexible folds to permit the tub to move separately from the door during the high speed extraction cycle. These folds can collect lint, dirt, and moisture, resulting in mold and mildew growth and a foul odor. Some front-loading washer operating instructions say the bellows should be wiped down monthly with a strong bleach solution, while others offer a special freshening cycle where the machine is run empty with a strong dosing of bleach"

It seems possible fabric dye could also show up in the bellows, and stain the next load ;-(

Yup! Worked a treat. Five metres of factory/storage stained white pure linen turned a most edible deep bitter chocolate brown on a normal wash at 40 degrees, following the pack instructions. I used Dylon washing machine dye. I've also dyed white cotton a beautiful beige the same way.

I had an interesting experience this last time when I dyed fabric and used my front loader- while making a very 'dark' batch of the 24 step color wheel. I wanted very deep, saturated, intense colors. I use the dyes from Dharma- Procion, think they are called. I made a triple batch of each dye and wasn't quite sure how much fabric I could stuff into the jars with the various colored dyes. So I soaked every piece of white or off white fabric I had in the wetting solution to dye everything. Did my dye thing and hand rinsed all the fabrics. Then I put them thru my front loader washing machine using hot water, Synthrapol, the long wash cycle and the extra rinse cycle.

When I washed the dyed fabrics, I put in a piece of the leftover white fabric that had been soaked in the wetting agent- as I had quite a bit left over. When the white test fabric came out of the washer load it was dyed a lovely shade of pastel from the loose dye. So, I ran the whole batch thru the washer again with another piece of white fabric tossed in. And I got another lovely pastel a shade lighter than the first one. This continued thru several more loads. What a nice surprise as I seldom use pastels and don't dye them at all.

Now, my conclusion is that the front loader uses so much less water than the other top loader type washer that it doesn't remove the excess dyes as well since you don't have the same degree of dilution.

So there is a plus side to using the top loader in the bonus pastel dyed fabrics, but also a drawback in the small amount of water that doesn't flush the excess dyes as quickly. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Leslie, Missy & The Furbabies >> Something I didn't consider when I bought a new front loading washing

Thanks for the info. I've also got a front loader and have been afraid to try to dye in itt. will give that some thought. I'm too busy cleaning up the explosion anyway to be dyeing.

Sunny

And remember the dye instructions say add salt - so don't forget to buy some, or you'll have to go out again!

Sally at the Seaside ~~~~~~~~~~ (uk)

Kate XXXXXX wrote:

I am very interested in this "thread". I, too, have the front load washer and have been wanting to learn how to dye some of my on fabric.

Leslie, where do you buy your dye? Online? Quilt store?

It is true, my FLW uses very little water and therefor very little soap is needed. Sometimes I run the extra rinse when I see bubbles around the edge of the wash tub.

My second questions to anyone is what type of fabric do you dye? Can you dye bed sheets also? Can my black blouse that is not so black now be dyed back to black?

Inquiring minds want to know..............:-)

Piece,

Marsha in nw, Ohio

Ah! Thanks, Sally, that was something else I got a big surprise from using.

I have always used non-iodized table salt in the dye process, but these last three times I didn't have any so I used 'canning salt'. It's a 'saltier' salt, I think, since it doesn't have anti-clumping additives and stuff. When I made a medium dye batch it came out as a dark batch- using the canning salt. And a light batch came out as a medium- using the canning salt. Usually my dark batches come out medium- using the table salt. That's when I tried the dark batch directions with canning salt and I got the most glorious colors, but they didn't rinse out the excess dye as easily.

I took a photo of the current dark batch using the canning salt beside what's left of a previous dark batch using the non-iodized table salt. There's quite a difference!

Next conclusion- for lighter less intense colors use the table salt and to get the deep, rich colors use canning salt.

Leslie, Missy & The Furbabies in MO.

What does the book say?

Oh boy, Marsha, you asked for it! LOL

I buy my dyes and supplies from dharmatrading.com or is it dharmatradingcompany.com??? Never can remember that... They have beginner's kits with all you need to get started on a small-ish batch thru every color imaginable in their many different dying products.

I have an article I cut out of a magazine many years ago. It has the 'recipes' for a 24 step color wheel- in light, medium or dark batches. I nearly always use that. I only buy three colors of dye, plus the wetting agent, the urea and the Synthropol soap.

You start with fabric, of course! I prefer to buy Dharma's best quality PFD- prepared for dying- fabric. It doesn't have a bunch of finishes on it like 'regular' fabric could have- like optical whiteners and permanent press finish and stuff. It takes the dye very well and performs consistently. You can dye anything- muslin, print fabrics, any light colored fabric- and tone-on-tones come out pretty, too. The fabric content makes a big difference in how the dye takes, too, so I don't know about that shirt of yours. An rctq friend sent me a piece of her hand-dyed silk and it was amazing! I'm no expert by ANY means- I pretty much stick to my PFD cottons.

Then you soak the fabric for a bit in the wetting agent- can't remember it's exact name off the top of my head- mix the dyes and let them set with the fabric. I usually use pint canning jars with 2 FQs in each one- the more you shake the fabric around in the jar of dye solution the more even the color will be. I like the shadings and mottling, so I don't shake mine up very much. I've also sprayed, dribbled, painted and otherwise put the dye on fabrics- the sky is the limit! Then rinse the dyed fabric by hand and then a few times thru the washer with Synthropol soap until you have all the loose dye out of there. Then you love the fabrics so much you have a hard time cutting into them!

There's tons of info on the internet from a simple Rit dye to shave cream dying to exotic processes like tie dye and marbling and shibori. You can buy books on dying or read up on it on Dharma's website. Our Kathy A. had some great dye info on her website, but I haven't visited there in a while since I printed it out. I'm a rank amateur at fabric dying, but sure enjoy it!

There's some VERY knowledgeable and experienced dyers on this ng, I hope some of them will tell you more than I know.

Leslie, Missy & The Furbabies in MO.

I goofed- this is wrong-

So there is a plus side to using the top loader in the bonus pastel dyed fabrics, but also a drawback in the small amount of water that doesn't flush the excess dyes as quickly. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

It should be in the **FRONT LOADER** not top loader. Sorry

Leslie, Missy & The Furbabies in MO.

Dunno anything about dying in a washer. I've tried it and haven't had much luck with it.

I have done cotton, linen, rayon, ramie, tencel, silk, and wool. I am an artist first, so the idea of dying my own fabrics for sewing of all sorts was entirely too tempting.

The easiest one of the lot was certainly the ramie. Sadly it is also the most difficult to find in yardage. But if you have a retail garment made of it that could use freshening go for it! kiri had cream colored jacket with a persistant coffee stain, and had me dye it azure. The only problem was it just sucked the color right up and came out a bit deeper and brighter than the plan. I have since tried a sweater and some slacks and now I so want some yardage! That stuff is a joy to dye.

Yup, but not cheap ones. Polyotton comes out looking funny because the polyester won't take the dye. So they pretty much have to be non-petrochemical sheets.

Oh yeah. That is something I do all the time. There are lots of black clothes at my house. That is the only place I use cheap dye and the washer in fact. We have enough black clothing (mostly I have enough) in the house, that every three or 6 months I will start the washer, toss a pound of salt and a bottle of black RIT in, and then toss in a load of black clothes. Let it agitate for 5 or ten minutes, then turn it off and let it soak for 20 minutes or half an hour, then let it finish the cycle. Of course if I have a piece that I have missed for a while that is fading I dye it normally, but mostly the RIT treatment is sufficient to keep everything new looking. It works a wonder on jeans. Besides, it makes me clean the washer when I ought. (G)

NightMist

I used the standard wash program with intensive rinse and then did annother additional rinse program, which uses more water... Then I made sure to was a couple of REALLY DARK loads (one mostly black socks and jeans, one dark brown stuff!) before doing a light coloured load! :)

WOW, I really did ask for it didn't I!!! LOL You are all so great and helpful. I really feel like I need someone to hold my hand through this, I know I am a weenie. I just keep seeing the floor, walls, ceiling, me, the dogs and the washer all mottled in different colors. It is terribly frightening!!

What do you set your canning jars on when you are working with them? Will the dye stain the outside of the washer? I would love to dye silk because it is so fun to free motion designs into. Is there a special silk to buy?

Oh, my gosh, I thought I had asked everything I could think of but I just have more questions now. :-)

Can you stand to answer more questions????

Peace,

Marsha in nw, Ohio

So fling a cheap vinyl tablecloth or a painters tarp over all, except the dogs who will need raincoats, and have at it.

The kitchen counter. I have also used the top of the washing machine and the bathtub (mine is porcelain over iron) as places to set containers. Though now I have my very own table in what used to be the upstairs kitchen. Now I can do dyeing even if Ash is home and awake! w00t! Spike (the black cat) is being troublesome though. He went about with a bluish cast to his nose for a while. I have been thinking about getting an inexpensive cold packer so I can turn my back on the jars with confidence. It would limit how many jars I could do at a time, but at least I wouldn't have to worry about Spike trying to go punk.

It hasn't mine yet. Just wipe it up while it is wet.

I've done all kinds of silk. It does require a different process though. It needs heat and an acid (usually white vinegar is used), rather than the cold process with soda ash. Mind you can do the cold process, but the soda ash is not good for the silk. Usually for vat dyeing I do it on top of the stove, but I have squnched it up in a pyrex cup and nuked it and it worked out. There is also the option of steaming, but that takes awhile. Also you should be aware that the standard dyes for cotton don't always work the same on silk. Blues tend to not come through as well or at all, and if you want black you are best off getting a dye made specially for silk and wool. You can make the wierdity work for you though. Doing goth sewing as I do, I use a fair bit of velvet. I have done a chemical burn on rayon pile-silk base velvet, and then dyed it to true on the rayon, giving a different color on the silk. Tempting fate I even tried a purple based black that way and got black pile on maroon colored silk.

Get 'em in now. I am doing one of those massive silk painted circles and have time while I am waiting for paint to dry. (G)

NightMist spends half her life waiting for paint to dry it seems.

Have you ever dyed something in a wringer washer?

Both my folks died when I was a teen, so left to my own devices, and knowing how to use my mother's wringer washer (all we had), I decided to dye an old sofa slip cover dark brown. I filled the washer with water and dye and agitated it around for a while, then to drain the washer, I placed the hooked hose over the edge of the bathtub to drain, like I did to drain the regular wash, then I went downstairs to make a phone call.

I lived in a 3 apartment house (owned by my grandmother) , My grandmother had one apartment, my aunt, uncle and cousins lived on the first floor, my place was the second and third floor.

All of a sudden my grandmother, who was a witch on her good days, comes running through to my apartment yelling that there is brown stuff dripping down her walls and turning her bathroom ceiling brown.

I ran upstairs only to find that the hose had unhooked itself from the tub and the entire washer of brown water had spilled all over the floor and was running through the floor to the room below.

I got my bathroom cleaned up and weirdly enough, the dye did not stain my linoleum or floor at all.

When my uncle came upstairs later I played dumb about how Memere's ceiling turned brown. They decided that a pipe had burst somewhere and the brown stuff was rust from "who knows where" .

I never fessed up to the incident. Served the old bat right for all the years she mistreated me.

Denise

QI