Help needed, anyone here ever use Rit dye, I need to dye a sweatshirt jacket.

[texanwitch]

A certain person splashed bleach on my jacket, I would like to try to save it.

I have the dye, and read the instructions but just wondered how well this stuff works.

My jacket is a mess the way it is so I can't make it any worse.

This is my favorite jacket.

[Radio_Lady]

1. Don't use it. It doesn't work well. It's a mess to do and the dye runs.

It will ruin whatever pot you boil in, and any sink you rinse it in.

Give your jacket away to a charitable cause. Someone will wear it with the stains.

IMHO, RIT should not even be sold to consumers.

Sorry about the accident. My opinion comes from experience.

Sincerely,

Radio Lady (worked for 12 years for one of the chemical divisions of Bristol-Myers Squibb)

[texanwitch]

2. Thanks for the info.

This jacket is such a mess, I don't know if anyone would want it.

I really hate bleach right now.

[Radio_Lady]

6. I understand. Worked with sodium and calcium hypochloride for years --

both at work (color consultant for haircoloring manufacturer) and at home (we owned an in-ground swimming pool from 1972 to 1998).

Chlorine and clothes don't mix well.

[texanwitch]

10. I only use bleach in old clothes.

I just hope I can find a new jacket close to the same color.

[Radio_Lady]

13. These things happen. It's not the end of the world. Please move on...

good night and good luck.

[texanwitch]

14. Thanks Radio-Lady.

I am just having a pity party right now.

This was insulated sweat shirt jacket which will be hard to replace.

The lining could be removed, this was my only winter coat.

[Radio_Lady]

15. Texan Witch, I really wish you were here so I could give you a hug... and take you to the beautiful

thrift (consignment) stores around here. We'd find you something else in a flash... You're in Houston? That's a very big place with a lot of people! Surely you can find a place that will have a new winter coat. I don't know what your life situation is, but there are so many ways to dress yourself WITHOUT spending a fortune.

I work with a group called Dress for Success with women who are coming in to the work force from great problems (addiction, abuse, anorexia, etc) and they need clothes just for an interview. Also the Good Neighbor Center in the next town, where we host 30 families (men, women, children) in our county who are trying to find clothes and a place to live.

Don't know what your situation is, but perhaps you can find someplace else nearby with the jacket of your dreams. I wish I could help.

:hug:

[texanwitch]

16. Thanks Radio_Lady, I have the money to buy a new jacket.

Here in Houston all the winter clothes are on sale now.

I will visit the resale shops near my house.

I will find a new favorite jacket, one is out there somewhere.

:hug:

[Radio_Lady]

19. Good for you! Texan Witch, I'm proud of you!

[FloridaJudy]

3. If it's just a few spots

You can sometimes save a garment by coloring it with permanent magic maker in a matching shade. Or go whole hog for the "distressed" look, with colorful patches and appliqués.

[Radio_Lady]

4. Good suggestion. But please, get rid of the RIT.

Take package back to the store, unopened, with receipt, and they probably will give you your money back.

[texanwitch]

8. The person really did a job on my jacket.

The bleach hit the whole front, it was a good thing I wasn't there.

At least the jackets are on sale now.

I can't even look at my poor jacket now.

[Radio_Lady]

12. I know... I know. My daughter got bleach on her new pants just a few months ago.

I gave her the same advice.

Just give them away.

Another thing I didn't mention. Bleach can CONTINUE TO SMELL forever on clothing.

I have some white sheets that I got at a yard sale probably YEARS ago. I had stored them in a plastic bag, and recently opened that bag to see what was in it. Guess what? Those items still smelled from chlorine. It's a very, very persistent odor.

[LeftyMom]

5. Rit makes a blotchy mess.

This is the only stuff I know of that really works: http://www.dharmatrading.com/procion.html

Dylon worked okay the few times I used it, but faded over time.

[Radio_Lady]

9. Never heard of it. But I wonder about this:

USE ON: All natural Fibers (Cotton, Rayon, Hemp, Silk, etc.), Wood, Cane, and Rattan

OP would have to experiment if composition of jacket is unknown.

Not worth the effort for one garment, even if it's beloved.

I can still remember the PAIN of trying to wash a rayon dress that I loved and had worn ONCE.

I should have sent it to the dry cleaners. Instead, I tried to wash it. The rayon's vegetable dye ran immediately as it hit the water, before I even added the detergent! I cried first, then decided that was really silly. Put it in a bag and disposed of it pronto.

Just learn as you go with fabrics.

[FloridaJudy]

22. I used to know a fabric artist

Who used the procion dyes for batik. As I remember, there were a lot of safety precautions she had to take: mask, goggles, heavy rubber gloves, extra ventilation. Granted, it's been over 20 years, and maybe they've improved the dyes, but it sounded like scary stuff to me at the time.

[Kali]

7. go ahead and try it - what will it hurt?

My experience with trying to fix bleach spills has not been real satisfactory - the bleach actually damages the fabric and the dye will not be the same color in the bleach spot as the rest of the garment - especially after the first wash.
Is it cotton? What was the original color?

Use the hotest water possible, follow all instructions except I used to double the amount of dye. (or half the water)

Any mess can be easily cleaned with...you guessed it! Bleach.

[Radio_Lady]

11. Kali, I totally agree that trying to "fix" bleach spills is NEVER satisfactory.

There is permanent damage to the fibers in clothes. RIT is NOT easily cleaned up from kitchen or bathrooms (where the dyeing process usually takes place in a person's home). It can leach into tile, grout, aluminum (causes discoloration), stainless steel, porcelain, copper, Teflon -- not to mention the inside of washing machines and dryers usually made of the above materials. Dyeing clothes in a factory uses an entirely different method and completely different industrial strength dyes that could never be used by just us folks.

I've come to exactly the opposite opinion. To the original poster: you should definitely avoid using this product.

Have a good evening!

In peace,

Radio Lady

[Kali]

17. I have had much better success cleaning up from dyeing fabric

than actually dyeing fabric.:rofl:

I usually did it right in the washing machine (top loader) and then ran a cycle with a couple cups of bleach...never had a problem.

[kath]

18. The Procion dye from Dharma Trading Co., rec'ed in a previous post, is great stuff, IF the jacket is

all (or nearly all) cotton or other natural fiber. It's used for the high quality tie-dyed stuff, where the color actually remains in the garment and remains vivid; can also be used for solid colors. The Dharma website has LOTS of good info on dyeing.

[texanwitch]

20. I will check out the website.

It would be worth a try.

Thank you.

I had the jacket for years.

[GirlinContempt]

21. I've had varying degrees of success with dyes, rit included

but it depends on the colour, fabric and method. Uneven colouration will usually end up with an uneven result.
I've never had all of the horror stories listed, and I've done plenty of dying, but it can depend on many factors.

[RebelOne]

23. I used it many years ago to dye a bedspread. Worked well for me. n/t

[raccoon]

24. I have learned, never messs with bleach unless you're in clothes you don't care about or else naked.

I know, you said somebody else spilled bleach on you. Sorry bout that.

[qb]

25. My experience with Rit...

In middle school I needed maroon shorts & shirt for gym. All of the stores were sold out of maroon, so my mom got white shorts & shirt & Rit dye. After a couple of washings I was the boy in pink...