How Do I Dye a Shirt?

Updated on September 22, 2011
S.S. asks from Saint Petersburg, FL
6 answers

I couldn't find a khaki boys button down shirt for a Halloween costume for my son so I bought it in white. It's a 55% cotton 45%polyester Arrow shirt and I was hoping it would be easy to dye. Our family is dressing as the Ghostbusters so the shirt is to look like a khaki uniform. I was wondering if anyone with some dying success could give me some tips. Should I soak it in tea or coffee or should I buy Rit Dye and try that? I have a front loading washer and in the past I recall dying in the washing machine when it was a top loader. Any advice? Thanks, Mamas.

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So What Happened?

Moms with experience, thank you. I tried the on the stove method and with the salt, it worked great. I could have used a larger pot. I'll look for one at a thrift shop just for dying. The shirt really needed more room to move around so it could be dyed evenly. Just know the project was on the stove for 30 minutes and I had to stir constantly, so leave time accordingly. All in all, just great for a Halloween costume! Ironing on the patches this weekend and we're ready to go!

More Answers

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S.K.

answers from Dallas on

I have dyed shirts several times. I got the truest color with a big pot on the stove using rit dye. Boiling water and using a bucket, I got a very faded color. Be sure to add salt like the directions recommend. You can get on the Rit dye website and read the directions. They are easier to read than the tiny print on the box and they give you good tips. Also, I found the best selection of colors at Michaels but Walmart carries it too.

Good luck! Cute idea, BTW!

1 mom found this helpful
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K.B.

answers from San Francisco on

I would go ahead and use the RIT. Tea can be unpredictable and more likely to go yellow-y in my experience (like old lace). I don't know about front loaders (I have a top) but you'll use less water in a bucket and still get good results.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.R.

answers from Phoenix on

Tea & Coffee work well on 100% cotton for that Khaki color, but not so well with the polyester...

Don't use your front load washing machine. Just a large bucket or tub or laundry room sink. Boil water, add your tea bags, steap a few minutes, add your shirt and soak overnight. Wring out and rinse with cold water. Don't wash with other clothes. If that doesn't work, then resort to the RIT Dye in a box.

GL!! Cute idea!

1 mom found this helpful
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J.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

if you can find the color go with the dye. do it in the sink or in a bucket. Coffee might be a good back up but I'd stay away from the tea. just follow the directions on the dye box.

G.T.

answers from Redding on

i'd get the RIT and just do it in the sink with boiling water.

J.I.

answers from San Antonio on

I'm dyeing white underwear red as I type this -- so my son can be Superman for Halloween. I bought the RIT dye. It has machine dyeing instructions AND sink dyeing instructions. I think the bottle cost $2 or $3, so I'd probably go that route instead of the tea. In your case, you'd have to dye it in the sink. Instructions on the RIT bottle say basically: get HOT water in washer, add dye, add clothes. So the front-loader wouldn't work with those steps.

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