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How to Dye Non-Washable Fabric

Dyeing fabrics right from home is a quick and easy way to turn your fabric into almost any color that you like. However, there are some fabrics that cannot be dyed properly with fabric dyes, like polyester or waterproofed fabrics. But some non-washable fabrics -- such as acetate, linen, rayon, wool and silk -- can be successfully dyed. To know if your non-washable fabric can be dyed, check the care instructions tag. If the garment is to be washed in cold water only or is dry clean only, it cannot be dyed. But if it can be hand-washed, it can be dyed.

Things You'll Need

Garbage bag
Rubber gloves
4 oz. liquid fabric dye
Large bucket
3 gallons water
Large, stainless steel spoon

Instructions

- 1
  Place a garbage bag over your workspace to protect your countertop from possible stains. Put on a pair of rubber or latex gloves to protect your hands and fingernails from staining, as well.
- 2
  Pour 4 oz. of a liquid fabric dye into a large bucket.
- 3
  Fill up the bucket with 3 gallons of the hottest water temperature suggested on the car instructions tag. For fabrics that should not be washed in hot water, like wool, use warm water instead.
- 4
  Place your fabric into the large bucket. Stir the fabric in the dye water for 30 to 45 minutes using a large stainless steel spoon. Allow the fabric to soak in the water for the remaining 15 minutes.
- 5
  Remove the fabric from the water, and rinse it out under cool tap water. This step will remove remaining dye that did not adhere to the fabric, prevent bleeding and will also seal the color into the garment.
- 6
  Dry the garment completely before wearing. Most hand-wash or non-washable fabrics should not be dried in a dryer. For those fabrics, hang the fabric to dry.

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