Fabric dying in front loader washing machine

[Denise K.]

Has anyone tried dying fabric in a front loader washing machine? If so, can you give any hints? Is there enough water used to remove excess dye? How do you know when you have used enough rinse cycles? (In a top loader you can see the color of the water.) I would plan to dye small batches in separate containers and use the machine for rinsing. Any help/ideas would be appreciated.

[Denise K.]

If you are only doing small amounts and intend to use the machine to rinse the fabrics make sure that you wash them in warm soapy water first, then rinse and spin. One cycle should be plenty. If you are dyeing bigger pieces you can just throw everything in for a normal wash/rinse cycle. Some people use colour catchers to make sure that the dye does not transfer from one piece to another during the wash. I have never used them but I don't leave unrinsed pieces sitting next to each other for any length of time before they go into the machine. Oops nearly forgot to mention that I have a front loader and do lots of dyeing. Maggi :roll:

[Denise K.]

Thank you, Margaret, for your information about using a front loader washing machine when dying fabric.

[Denise K.]

My questions about front load washer dying:

Do you use liquid dye?

Do you put the dye in the soap dispenser or directly on the fabric?

Do you run an empty soap and bleach cycle after to clear any potential residue?

I have wanted to do some dying but don't know where to start. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Sally in rainy Torrance CA

[Denise K.]

I would not actually dye in the washing machine. I dye small amounts (1/2 a yard or less) in baggies or plastic containers. When the color I want is reached, I pour the dye down the drain of my laundry tub and do the initial rinse there. It takes loads and loads of changing the rinse water that way. I am hoping that the front loader washing machine would dispense enough rinse water to eliminate the excess dye. The top loader that I used to use, used a lot more water.