Caring for Dyed Fabrics

Let set: let your dyed fabric/garment sit in the plastic bag for 24 hours undisturbed with rubber bands still in place.

Rinsing: Put on plastic gloves and start by rinsing out the excess dye with cold water, as you remove the rubber bands and turn the fabric under the water. Continue squeezing and rinsing the garment in cold, then warm, then hot water until the water runs clear. This removes loose dye particles.

Wash Your Tie-Dye for the First Time:
Use a Cold/warm Wash Cycle: Place your tie-dye garment in the washing machine on a warm wash/cold rinse cycle.
Add detergent to help lift any remaining dye particles (Synthapol or baby shampoo work great).
Wash Alone or with Similar Colors for the first wash, NO adding light-colored garments!
Toss in dark-colored towels or jeans to increase friction and clean more effectively. You can add a 'color catcher' by Carbona to capture any loose dye (highly recommend this!).

💧 Preventing Bleeding in the Wash
Soak in Hot Water: If you want to minimize color bleeding, let your tie-dye soak in hot water for 5–10 minutes before washing. Hot water opens the fabric’s pores, allowing unbonded dye particles to escape before the first wash.
Use Detergent: A good detergent keeps loose dye particles in suspension, preventing them from staining the fabric. NO Bleach or harsh detergent!
Rinse Thoroughly: Proper rinsing before washing is the best way to ensure your colors stay sharp and clean.
Tie-dye garments can safely go in the dryer low-heat setting to protect both the fabric and the colors.
Hang Dry: For an eco-friendly option, hang your tie-dye shirt in a shaded area to dry avoiding direct sunlight.

adapted from chandye.com - thank you!