Does anyone know the best way to keep the dye set after doing home Tie-dye t-shirts? I've heard something about salt and something about vinegar. Any other ideas? If using salt or vinegar, how do I use them?
In home-ec (30 years ago and then some) we were taught to use salt and vinegar in a cold rinse cycle then lay flat to dry after dying. After than, always wash in cold.
I dye wool and what I use is citric acid. You don't have to deal with the smell that way. Two teaspoons full to a 1/2 yd. of wool. The salt is used to pull the dye into the fibers...only a tablespoon to the wool bath. When I used white vinegar, I used about 1/2 cup to a 1/2 yd. of wool. With wool, it takes heat and acid (vinegar or citric acid) to set the color. So, in the pan of water that I bring to a simmer for 40 minutes, these ingred. go. You will have to worry about the srinkage though with simmering the shirts. I wonder what you used for dyes? Good luck.
approx. 1/2 c. salt in cold water wash cycle. this step can be repeated as an added safeguard if dark or vibrant colors are used.
here's another tip that i've used: put white vinegar & water (50/50) in your steam iron turn garment inside out and steam press thoroughly place garment in dryer to finish
*be sure to run an extra cycle to ensure dye residue doesn't remain in your washer & ruin the next load *try placing freshly dyed items in an old pillowcase in the dryer the first time
during regular wear, i find it helps prevent fading to launder darks & dyed garments inside out (in cold water)
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