Unlike many synthetic fibers, nylon is fairly easy to dye. You can use chemicals, but for a cheaper and less aggressive result, consider using food colors or soluble beverage preparations instead.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Chemical Dye
Step 1. Prepare the tincture
Liquid dye bottles must be shaken vigorously before being used. Powder dyes must be dissolved in warm water.
- Mix the dye in an unused plastic bucket or stainless steel container. Porcelain and fiberglass may get stained, so it's best not to use them. Plastic can also get stained, so only use plastic buckets that you can then throw away.
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Follow the instructions to decide how much dye and how much water to use. Typically you will need a pack of dye powder or half a bottle of liquid for 450g of fabric, or less.
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When you dissolve a pack of dye powder you will need to dissolve it in 500ml of water.
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Step 2. Wet the nylon
Put the nylon in a large pot and cover it with warm water. Put the saucepan on the stove over medium heat until the water reaches a temperature of about 30 ° C.
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Normally you will need about 12 l of water per 450 g of fabric.
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Once the water has reached the desired temperature, remove the fabric from the pot and set it aside.
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Step 3. Create the color bath
Add the dye mixture to the water in the pot. Mix well to distribute the color evenly.
Step 4. Add the nylon
Dip the fabric in the dye bath. Stir gently for a few minutes, while everything is heated over medium heat.
Make sure the fabric does not knot while immersed in the dye bath. The knots would cause uneven coloring, creating unsightly spots. To avoid knots, mix gently and slowly. You should also avoid overfilling the pot
Step 5. Add vinegar
As soon as the water starts to simmer, add a little vinegar. White vinegar can help fix the color on the nylon fibers.
- Use 250ml of white vinegar for 450g of nylon or 12L of water.
- Wait at least 5 minutes before adding the vinegar, even if the water begins to boil. If you add the vinegar too soon, the dye may not penetrate evenly into the nylon.
- When adding vinegar, you can also pour in 15 ml of laundry soap. This way you will have an even dye.
Step 6. Stir while staining
Leave the nylon to soak in the dye for at least 20 minutes. Stir gently to help the process.
- Boil the water until it reaches 60 ° C. Many dyes activate with heat and the temperature will need to be at least 60 ° C if you want a bright color. Once the desired temperature is reached, you can turn off the heat.
- The more the nylon is soaked, the brighter the color will be. You can leave it in the dye bath for over an hour.
- You will have to mix constantly.
Step 7. Rinse the nylon with warm water
Take it out of the paint pot and put everything in a sink or large bucket. Rinse the fabric with plenty of hot water, several times.
- The water must be at 60 ° C. Hot water is necessary to remove excess dye, but it must not affect the color of the fabric.
- Change the water often to help remove the dye. Repeat until the water runs clear after rinsing.
- Alternatively, you can rinse the nylon under running hot water. Continue until the flowing water is clear.
Step 8. Let the fabric dry
Air dry. Once dry, the nylon should be ready for use.
Method 2 of 3: Food coloring
Step 1. Wet the fabric
Put the nylon in a bucket filled with warm water. Leave it to soak overnight or for at least 8 hours.
Soaking the nylon ensures that the dye penetrates evenly and leaving it long guarantees an optimal result. If the chemical dye needs hot water to fix itself, water at room temperature will suffice for the food dye
Step 2. Mix the dye bath
Fill a large pot with hot water about two-thirds full. Mix the dye of your choice until completely dissolved.
- Make sure you have a large enough pot and the right amount of water for dyeing. Test the size of the pot, before starting, by putting the fabric in it: it should not occupy more than a quarter of the pot.
- You will need about one liter of water for 110g of fabric. For example, if you have to dye a pair of socks, 1 liter of water will be enough.
- The right amount of food coloring can be difficult to determine. For a bright color you will need at least 10 drops of dye per 250ml of water. Change the amount for a brighter or more delicate color.
Step 3. Dip the nylon in the dye bath
Make sure it is completely submerged. You have to let the dye penetrate the fibers well.
Mix. You will need to mix throughout the coloring process to ensure an even dye
Step 4. Heat the dye bath
Put the pot on the stove and heat over medium heat up to a temperature of 82 ° C.
The coloring process is almost always triggered by heat, no matter what type of dye you use. If you want the color to be bright and vibrant, this is the minimum temperature to reach. However, don't let the colored water boil too much
Step 5. Add vinegar
Pour some vinegar into the dye bath, stirring gently. The vinegar will help fix the color in the fibers of the fabric.
The amount of vinegar varies based on the amount of water you use. As a general rule, use 15ml of vinegar for every 250ml of water
Step 6. Allow the dye bath to cool
Turn off the heat and remove the pot from the stove. Let it rest until the dye bath is at room temperature. Do not remove the nylon from the pot.
When the nylon has dyed, the water should be clean enough. If you don't notice any changes in the color of the water after 20-30 minutes, put the pot back on the stove and let the coloring process reactivate
Step 7. Rinse the nylon
Put the nylon in a large sink and rinse it under warm water. Run the water until it is clear.
Step 8. Let the nylon dry
Gently squeeze the excess water out of the fabric but don't twist it too much as you could damage it. Place it on some surface or hang it in a space with good air circulation until it is completely dry.
If you want it to dry lying on some surface you have to spread it out well. If you don't, it will dry out creating ripples
Method 3 of 3: Soluble Beverage Preparations
Step 1. Wet the fabric
Put the nylon in a container with lukewarm water and let it soak for 20-30 minutes.
Pre-soaking will facilitate uniform fixing of the color to the fabric
Step 2. Mix the mixture with water
Pour 250-500ml of boiling water into a microwave-safe container. Add a pack of soluble drink mix, stirring until the powder dissolves.
- This process is suitable for a small amount of nylon - for example for one or two pairs of socks. Do not use this method if you have more than 110g of fabric to dye.
- You will need a container that can hold about 1 liter of water and 110 g of nylon. Don't use a container that is too small, even if you have less nylon to dye. It may not dye evenly.
Step 3. Add the nylon
Place the nylon in the dye bath, pushing it down with a spoon until all the fabric is completely submerged.
Since it is already heavy with the pre-soak water, the nylon should go directly to the bottom of the container, instead of floating on the surface of the water. All the fabric must be completely submerged if you want the operation to be successful
Step 4. Heat the dye bath
Put the container, with the nylon and the rest, in the microwave. Run it on full power for one minute. Stir gently and let it rest for 1 or 2 minutes. Repeat if necessary, until the color is completely absorbed.
Gradually the nylon should begin to absorb the dye. Eventually the fabric will appear a deeper color and clearer water. The whole process takes about 3-6 steps in the microwave
Step 5. Prepare a vinegar and water rinse
Fill a large container with cold water and a measuring cup of white vinegar, mixing well.
- The vinegar favors the fixing of the color.
- If you don't have a measuring cup or cap, add 15ml of vinegar to 5ml of water.
Step 6. Rinse the nylon
Remove the fabric from the dye bath and squeeze it gently without twisting it. Then dip it into the rinse you have prepared to remove excess dye.
You will need to change the rinse water several times. Eventually, the water will have to appear clear and this is how you will understand that all the excess color has been washed away
Step 7. Let the nylon dry
Gently squeeze and hang the nylon to dry in the open air.
Advice
- White or cream-colored nylon is the easiest to dye, followed by flesh-colored nylon. The dark one, for example black or brown, cannot be dyed, unless it is first treated with a bleach.
- For the first few washes, wash nylon items alone in cold water and bleach-free products to prevent the color from fading.
Warnings
- Cover the surface you are working on with a plastic tablecloth or newspaper to avoid staining it with dye, especially in the case of a chemical dye.
- Keep rags, napkins, and sponges handy so that you can wipe away any splashes of color that come out of the container.
- Protect your hands from dye and boiling water by wearing rubber gloves.
