Tie-dyeing is fun, playing with lots of colours and getting the desired garment is pleasing of course. But what if you are getting white spots? Though many of us get the white spots intentionally but it’s totally alright if you don’t like the white spots.
So, how to tie-dye without white spots on your fabric?
You will not get white spots if you apply enough dye, do not tie your cloth too tightly and get the tips of the squeeze bottles into the folds while tie-dyeing. Also, you need to ensure that your cloth is prepared before starting dyeing.
Let’s just go into the depth of the process of how you can do it perfectly and get your desired tie-dye.
How Do You Tie-Dye Without White Spots?
Before starting how you can tie-dye without white stain, let’s just check the do’s and don’ts when tie-dyeing your garment. You may have white spots for this. So, have a look!
| Do’s | Don’ts |
| Put enough dye on your fabric | Using Too much water or less dye than required. |
| Tie your cloth loosely which is required | Tie the cloth too tightly. |
| The squeeze bottle tips are getting into the folds of your cloth. | Too many folds or rubber. |
| Apply the dye evenly | Don’t put the garment into extremely hot water. |
| Allow enough time for processing | |
| Soak the garment properly | |
| Squeeze the area of dye colour |
Now, let’s start the discussion in detail following this guideline.
Enough Dye Mixing:
When you tie dye on your garment, make sure that you are putting enough dye. If you mix less amount of dye, you may get white spots on your finished tie-dye. Because a little amount of dye colour can’t cover every folds or area that is required.
If you are doing tie-dye only with one colour and mixing it with water then make sure you are not adding too much water. Then dye colour would be less than required for your garment. You may have white stains on some areas of your finished tie-dye.
The optimum ratio for dye powder and water is 1:4. Meaning if you are mixing 4 ounces of water then you need to add 1 tsp of dye powder to that.
However, the ratio changes if you are using tbsp. In that case, 16 ounces of water will require 1 tbsp of dye powder. This amount will vary according to the dye, the type of water and also the fabric you are dying.
Never Tie Your Garment Too Tightly:
Make sure that you’re not tying your garment too tightly when dyeing. The dye colour won’t cover every square inch of your cloth if it is folded too tightly. So, if you don’t want white spots then you have to tie or fold your garment loosely.
Soak the Garments Properly:
Before tie-dyeing you need to soak the fabric in a solution of water and soda ash. It can help the fabric to soak the dye more evenly and prevent white spots. The preparation before the dyeing is really important for a proper tie dye output.
The Squeeze Bottle:
When you are tie-dyeing, make sure that the squeeze bottle tips are getting into the folds properly. If it doesn’t then you may have white spots on your finished tie-dye.
Apply the Dye Evenly:
When you are adding the dye colour to your garment, make sure that you apply it evenly all over the area properly. If you skip some areas and don’t put it even then you may have white spots on the finished tie-dye. So it’s important to notice.
Squeeze the Fabric:
After applying dye to your fabric, squeeze the area with your fingers, assisting the dye’s penetration of each fold. You will not have white spots on your finished tie-dye.
Allow Enough Time for Processing:
Take enough time for the dyeing process. The fabric won’t be able to soak up the dye effectively if you rush the dyeing process or after applying the dye to your fabric. You need to keep them at least 8 hours to sit and up to 24 hours. Moreover, if you live in a dry climate then, you have to cover them with a zip lock plastic bag to keep them wet. Thus you may not get white spots on the finished tie-dye.
Extreme Hot Water Can be a Problem:
When the dyes have been mixed up with hot water for too long, most of the colour can wash out in the end. Or After mixing the dye, if you put your dyed fabric in too hot water then it will wash out too. This happens because the dye colour stops reacting to hot water.
If you are using natural fabric for your tie dye, then the temperature of your room should be at least 70° F. Here is a table below of hours according to room temperature, you check this out-
| Temperature (F) | Temperature (C) | Hours |
| 90° | 35° | 2 |
| 80° | 27° | 4 |
| 70° | 21° | 8 |
| 60° | 18° | 24 |
| 65° | 15° | 72 |
| 55° | 13° | n/a |
So, according to your room temperature, you can now keep the dye to set for appropriate hours.
Too Many Folds:
If you do too many folds with your cloth, the dye may not penetrate the inside layers of the fabric properly. So make sure you are doing the folds that are required.
So, these are some easy tips for not getting white spots on your finished tie-dye. While dyeing your garment, you have to notice these things properly to prevent white spots.
How Can You Fix the White Stains?
Have you already made the mistake and want to get rid of this? It’s totally alright making mistakes while tie-dyeing as a newbie. Through this, you can learn something new and interesting. So let’s walk through the process of how you can fix it up. You need some tools and precautions for troubleshooting.
Tools Required:
- Hand gloves
- Brush
- Dye mixing pot
- White vinegar
Working Process:
Step 1: Take the dye colour you want to use to cover the white spots.
Step 2: Mix it with some water and a little amount of white vinegar.
Step 3: Then, properly spread the white spot part of your garment.
Step 4: Now gently tab the dye colour on the spots area to cover up properly with a brush.
Step 5: Do not rub the spot area or take too much colour to do this. Add more dye if needed.
Step 6: You will see the dye mixing with the garment and covering the white stains. And add colour if required.
Step 7: Now squeeze the garment to remove the extra water from it. And see you are done.
You will get your cloth with no white spots instantly by doing this process. If you are still confused and want to watch a video, then here it is-
6 Crucial Tricks and Tips for Perfect Tie Dye
Here are some tricks and tips for perfect tie-dyeing. Always try to follow this while dyeing your fabric. It will help you to get the desired colour. Let’s have a look!
Choose the Best Fabric to Tie Dye:
If you do not buy your dyeable garments for tie-dye, you may not get the desired tie-dye. Always try to use natural fibres, cotton, linen, rayon, hemp etc mixed garments. Polyester blends are everywhere and they are very cheap. People also use polyester cotton blends for tie-dyeing. So try to use the best quality garment for dyeing.
Pre-Wash your items:
Before you start the tie-dyeing process, make sure you wash the fabrics in hot water to remove dirt, oil, and sizing that may prevent the dye from penetrating the fabrics.
Use the Soda Soak Tie-Dye Method:
The soda soak tie-dye method is a tie-dyeing technique that involves soaking the fabric in a mixture of soda ash and water before applying dye. This method is used to create bright vibrant colours and ensure that the dye is observed evenly into the fabric.
Ensure Dye Quality:
Make sure that the dye you are using in your garment is from good quality brands. If you use cheap or low-quality dye to tie dye then you may not get the desired output. This can also cause your red color sublimation to turn orange.
Using freshly mixed & fresh dye:
Always try to use freshly mixed dye. It’s very important for tie-dye. Mix up the dye right before you are going to use it. It weakens more quickly the longer it is submerged, especially in warm or hot temperatures.
So, for best results, it’s recommended that you mix up the dye no more than you can use it within 2 days. You can store the liquid dye in the refrigerator and many colours last a couple of weeks if stored in cold.
Dissolve the Dye Powder Properly:
Before adding the majority of the water, paste up your colour in a glass measuring cup. Then add it to the hot water in a large container to dissolve the dye powder but do not boil it.
Stir the mixture with a spoon and continue stirring until the mixture is smooth and all the clumps are dissolved. Then, let it cool down.
These are the tricks you can apply while tie-dyeing. Your cloth will be your desired ones.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
What Is Ice Tie-Dye?
The unique alternative to the classic tie-dye method, ice dying, yields gorgeous watercolour patterns. Ice-dyers use powdered dye sprinkled over a pile of ice cubes instead of liquid dye and squeeze bottles to create magical patterns on previously plain white tees.
Can I Dye Again on Top of A Shirt I Already Dyed?
Yes, you can tie-dye again on the top of the shirt you already dyed. As long as it would be organic fabric like cotton, rayon, hemp, silk and jute. But remember when you add dye to an already dyed area, the colours combine to form a new colour.
Conclusion
Thank you for being patient till the end of the discussion. I tried to give you a proper guideline on how you can tie dye without white spots easily. I hope it will help you on your next tie-dyeing work and you will get your desired clothes.
Good luck and have a great day!
