Dye Fix ~ Any ideas

xxxdarlingxxx

Hi there

I found some lovely skinny jeans today in Asda at a super price. They have a tag on saying that the dye may rub off on light coloured clothing next to it.

I want to be able to wear then with white t shirts, any idea how I can "fix" the colour please.

Many thanks

xDx

babyshoes

Traditional dye fix used salt in hot water - not sure if it would work with the type of dye they use on jeans though. I guess a salty rinse wouldn't hurt...

When they are dry, try rubbing them onto a piece of scrap white cloth to see if the colour comes off.

Gefjun

I always found a couple of washes should get the excess dye out - but wash them either on their own or with similar colours.

charlies-aunt

Yikes! why do they sell jeans like these? - I bought some for dd and didn't notice the warning on the label and she ended up with blue legs after the first wearing...in addition to leaving blue marks everywhere she sat! :mad:

I'd give them a good soak in heavily salted water to try and fix the dye and then a machine wash to remove the excess before wearing.

I've read that its possible to use the water from boiled chopped rhubarb leaves to fix dyes but haven't tried it personally

babyshoes

charlies-aunt wrote: »

I've read that its possible to use the water from boiled chopped rhubarb leaves to fix dyes but haven't tried it personally

If you decide to try this, just remember that the leaves from rhubarb are poisonous, so keep kids and pets away!

thriftwizard

Indigo, the traditional dye used for most denim, isn't & can't be "fast" - the dye molecules don't bond with the fabric like most dyes do, but sit on the outside of it & rub off as they wear. That's why jeans fade so attractively the way they do; more fade on the places that get the most wear. No chemical dye can give the same intensity of blue on a heavy weave like denim; that's why they continue to use it.

Once they've been washed a couple of times most of the "loose" dye molecules will indeed have washed out, but colour can continue to migrate for as long as the jeans are in use. Most jeans are pre-washed (if not stone-washed & stressed) but these evidently haven't been.

HTH!

ETA - I am a member of the local Guild of Weavers, Spinners & Dyers - that's where I found this out.

xxxdarlingxxx

Wow, rhubarb who would have thought !

Charlies Aunt I hope your daughter has lost her blue legs !!!

Thank you all so much for the advice x

xDx