That black dress has washed out to charcoal. The white shirt has gone grey. Your favourite jeans have faded at the knees. None of them needs replacing.
One pack of Dylon Hand Dye, a bowl of warm water and an hour of your time will bring back a deep, even colour, or give a tired garment a completely new one. No washing machine is needed, which makes hand dyeing the right method for small items, delicates and any home without an automatic machine.
Watch it done first
Dylon's own video shows the whole process from start to finish.
Video: DYLON UK
What you need
One pack of Dylon Hand Dye for every 250 g of dry fabric. That is about one shirt.
250 g of ordinary table salt.
Rubber gloves.
A stainless steel sink or a large bowl or bucket.
Warm water, and something to stir with.
For small items and delicates
Dylon Hand Fabric Dye
From KES 1,600 a pack
Permanent colour for cotton, linen and viscose, worked in a bowl or sink. One pack dyes up to 250 g of fabric to the full shade on the pack, or a larger amount to a lighter shade.
Choose your colourStep by step
1. Weigh and wash
Weigh the fabric while it is dry so you know how many packs you need. Wash it well and leave it damp.
2. Dissolve the dye
Put on your gloves. Stir the dye into 500 ml of warm water until it has dissolved.
3. Prepare the dye bath
Fill your sink or bowl with about 6 litres of warm water at around 40°C. Stir in the 250 g of salt, add the dye and mix well.
4. Add the fabric
Put the damp fabric in and push it under so that it is completely covered.
5. Stir for 15 minutes
Keep the fabric moving the whole time. This is what gives you an even colour without patches.
6. Leave for 45 minutes
Stir it regularly while it soaks. The whole dyeing time is one hour.
7. Rinse in cold water
Rinse until the water begins to run clear.
8. Wash and dry
Wash in warm water, then dry away from direct heat and sunlight.
For the first few washes
Wash your newly dyed item on its own, because a little loose dye can still come out and mark other clothes.
Which fabrics will take the dye?
| Fabric | Result |
|---|---|
| Cotton, linen, viscose | Full, deep colour |
| Silk and wool | A lighter shade |
| Polyester-cotton and polyester-viscose blends | A lighter shade, because only the natural fibres take the dye |
| Pure polyester, nylon, acrylic | Will not dye |
Check the care label before you start. If it says cotton, linen or viscose, you are set.
Getting the colour you expect
Dye adds colour on top of what is already there. Blue dye on a yellow shirt gives green, so start with white or a pale fabric for a true shade.
To refresh a faded garment, choose the same colour or a darker one.
Seams are often sewn with polyester thread, which may stay its original colour.
More fabric than 250 g in one pack gives a paler result. For a strong colour, use a second pack.
Dyeing something bigger?
For jeans, bedding and larger loads, the washing machine does the stirring for you. Read our guide to Dylon Machine Dye.
Bring the garment, choose the colour
Not sure which shade will work over your fabric? Bring the item to our shop on the 1st floor of Sarit Centre and we will help you choose.
Shop Dylon dyesOr call us on +254 798 316860
Always follow the instructions printed on your pack.
Prices correct at the time of writing.
