How to Dye Clothing Black Without Dye

Natural dyes are a pretty way to add some color to your clothes. And while black is one of the hardest shades to achieve without artificial chemicals or dyes, it's totally possible with a little patience and experimenting. Whether you use acorns from the backyard or iris roots, the secret is soaking your fabric in a homemade fixative first. So dig up those old T-shirts and start dyeing!

EditSteps

EditMaking Dye out of Iron and Acorns

1. Place 2 handfuls of rusty objects and of vinegar in a jar. Use items with iron that rust easily like nails, screws, steel wool, or bolts. The more rust on the objects, the more effective your dye will be.^[1]
   
   • If you don’t have a glass jar, use any other large glass container with a lid.
   • You can buy iron powder from an online retailer if you don’t have rusty objects. Simply mix the powder into the vinegar.
2. Fill the jar 3/4 of the way with water, then seal it. Make sure the rusty objects are completely covered so they’ll soak properly. Screw the lid on tightly to prevent the liquid from evaporating.^[2]
   
   • You can use any temperature water, from cold to lukewarm to hot.
3. Set the jar in the sun for 1 to 2 weeks until the liquid is orange. An area that gets direct sunlight and is very warm will work best. The water and vinegar mixture should turn a copper shade due to the reaction between the iron from the rust and the vinegar.^[3]
   
   • Good places for your jar include a deck, driveway, or windowsill.
   • The orange liquid created is known as an iron mordant.
4. Combine acorns with water in a large pot. Use of acorns per of fabric. For example, if you have of fabric, you’ll need of acorns. Add enough water to cover both the acorns and the fabric.^[4].
   
   • Find acorns in any wooded area with oak trees or order them online.
   • Weigh your acorns using a food scale or a regular scale.
   • Use a stainless steel or glass pot. Copper or aluminum pots can react with the dye.
5. Let the acorns simmer in the water for 1 to 2 hours. Place the pot over low to medium heat, stirring the acorns occasionally. This cooking process helps extract the natural color from the nuts.^[5]
   
   • A simmer often occurs between and has tinier, slower bubbles than a rolling boil.^[6]
6. Wet your fabric and squeeze out any excess water. Dip your fabric in water or run it under the sink. Wring it out thoroughly so it’s damp, but not dripping.^[7]
   
   • Pre-wetting your fabric prevents splotchy coloring and allows the dye to spread evenly throughout the material.
7. Add the fabric to the acorn vat for 20 to 45 minutes. You may need to lower the heat to maintain a steady simmer. Stir the fabric in the pot occasionally to make sure it’s getting evenly coated.^[8]
   
   • If you’re dyeing wool, avoid stirring it too much or you’ll cause it to felt.^[9]
8. Combine the iron solution and water in a separate pot. This is what you'll dip the fabric in after you dye it. Use enough water to completely cover the fabric.^[10]
   
   • You can do this while the fabric is simmering in the dye.
9. Remove the fabric from the dye and set it in the iron pot for 10 minutes. Gently swish the fabric around in the pot with a large spoon to make sure it’s evenly coated. The reaction between the iron and the dye is what darkens and sets the color.^[11]
   
   • Use a stainless steel spoon to stir the fabric. A wooden spoon will be permanently stained by the dye.
10. Alternate soaking the fabric in the dye and the iron to darken it. If you aren’t satisfied with the color after the original 10 minutes is up, place the fabric back in the acorn dye for 5 minutes. Then put it into the iron mixture again for another 5 minutes.^[12]
    
    • Continue this alternating process until the color is dark enough.
11. Wring out the dye and let the fabric dry for 1 hour before washing it. Hang the fabric in a sunny spot outside or lay it over a drying rack in the laundry room. This gives the dye a chance to set before you wash it.^[13]
    
    • Place an old sheet or a drop cloth underneath the fabric as it dries to collect any drips of dye. They will stain any carpet or nearby fabric.
12. Wash the fabric with cool water and soap to remove any excess dye. Check the care instructions for your fabric. If it can be machine-washed, put it in the washing machine with a mild laundry soap and turn the dial to the cold water setting. Otherwise, wash the fabric by hand.^[14]
    
    • If you’re washing it by hand, you’ll know all the dye has been removed when the water runs clear and is no longer colored.
    • Wash the fabric separately if you're using a washing machine so you don't stain other clothes.

EditUsing Iris Roots to Dye Fabric

1. Place 1 part vinegar and 4 parts water along with your fabric in a pot. This mixture will act as a color fixative to help the dye stick to the fabric. Use enough water to completely cover the fabric.^[15]
   
   • For example, for every of vinegar, you’ll need of water.
   • White vinegar works best for dyeing.
   • Light-colored, natural fabric like pale silk or white muslin absorb dye the best. Avoid dyeing dark or synthetic fabric.
2. Simmer the mixture for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Turn the stove on low heat, bringing the water and vinegar solution to a light simmer. Use a spoon to move the fabric around in the pot so the liquid seeps into every spot.^[16]
   
   • Vinegar has a slightly higher boiling point than water so it will take longer to heat up.
3. Remove the fabric from the pot and rinse it in cold water. After letting it simmer for 1 hour, you're now ready to dye the fabric. Run it under cool water in the sink for 1 to 2 minutes, just to remove some of the vinegar.^[17]
   
   • You can also dip the fabric into a basin filled with cold water to rinse it.
   • Don't worry about the strong vinegar odor. That will be removed when you wash the fabric after dyeing it.
4. Combine 1 part iris roots with 2 parts water in a separate pot. Again, you’ll want enough water in the pot to cover the fabric. If you use of iris roots, for example, pour in of water.^[18]
   
   • Dye can be poisonous so pick a pot that you won’t use for cooking again.
   • Buy iris roots from a plant nursery or an online retailer.
   • You can soak the roots whole or chop them into smaller pieces to fit in your pot.
5. Place the wet fabric in the dye and let it simmer for 1 hour. Over low heat, bring the dye bath to just below boiling. Stir the fabric every so often, making sure it’s totally submerged and gets evenly coated in dye.^[19]
   
   • The bottom of the pot is the hottest so the dye is more intense there. As you stir, flip the fabric over so one area doesn’t get darker than the others.^[20]
   • If you want to use your hands to mix the fabric in the dye, wear rubber gloves to protect them.
6. Let the fabric soak in the dye overnight if you want a darker color. The longer the fabric sits in the dye bath, the darker black it will be. This will likely be necessary if you’re using synthetic fabrics which don’t absorb dye as readily.^[21]
   
   • Keep in mind that the color will get lighter once the fabric dries.^[22]
   • Cover your pot with a lid or place it out of reach of children and pets while it sits overnight since dye can be poisonous.
7. Wash the fabric with cold water and detergent, then let it dry. Look at the tag on the clothing to see if your item can be machine-washed or tumble-dried. If there’s no tag, err on the side of caution and hand wash your fabric using cool water and a mild soap. Then toss it in the dryer or hang it up outside.^[23]
   

EditThings You’ll Need

EditIron and Acorn Dye

• Fabric
• 2 handfuls of rusty items
• of white vinegar
• Water
• Acorns
• Large jar with a lid
• 2 large pots
• Spoon
• Clothesline or drying rack
• Washing machine (optional)

EditIris Root Dye

• Fabric
• Iris roots
• Vinegar
• Water
• 2 large pots
• Spoon
• Clothesline or drying rack
• Washing machine (optional)

EditWarnings

• Never cook with a pot that's been used for dyeing, as it can be poisonous.
• If you accidentally ingest dye, call your doctor or go to the emergency room immediately.
• Wear rubber gloves when handling dye if you have sensitive skin.
• Dye can permanently stain other fabrics so wear old clothes or put down drop cloths when you're dyeing.

EditSources and Citations

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via Peter