# how to "set" dye in clothing? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 18, 2002, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-set-dye-in-clothing/143571 "2002-12-18T16:07:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LorieSmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a587f6/32.png) [@LorieSmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LorieSmurf)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-set-dye-in-clothing/143571/1 "2002-12-18T16:07:49Z")
I’m wanting to buy a gi (I think that’s how you spell the word…those karate jacket/tops) for my boyfriend for Christmas. His old black one seemed to fade really fast. A long time ago I heard a trick for “setting” the color in medical scrub tops: the first time you wash it, wash it with a cupful of vinegar in the machine, and that will keep the color in longer. I’ve never tried it. The gi is 50% cotton, 50% polyester. Has anyone tried this? What was your experience? Thanks!! Lorie ---
**Author:** ![XJETGIRLX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9fc29f/32.png) [@XJETGIRLX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XJETGIRLX)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-set-dye-in-clothing/143571/2 "2002-12-18T16:14:03Z")
My husband recently dyed an old white gi with black rit dye. As he had tried this previously with horrible results, he decided to do some research. He soaked it overnight in a superconcentrated mixture of salt water. It so far has seemed to do the trick of keeping the dye in its place. Can’t explain how/why it works, but so far so good. ---
**Author:** ![Skelji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Skelji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skelji)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-set-dye-in-clothing/143571/3 "2002-12-18T16:28:02Z")
I just read about another method, soaking the garment in a mixture of Epsom Salt and water. It is supposedly more effective than plain salt, but I haven’t tried it. I tried the plain salt method on some dyed clothing that was all cotton, and it seemed to work. Usually, clothing with a cotton/polyester blend is less likely to bleed than 100% cotton, but treatment or not, you should wash it separately at first. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-set-dye-in-clothing/143571/4 "2002-12-18T16:55:48Z")
First of all, don’t bother with Rit dye. Get the good dye. Try [www.dharmatrading.com](http://www.dharmatrading.com) Second, a 50/50 blend won’t take dye well. The cotton will readily accept the dye, but the polyester won’t. You’ll end up with a yucky mottled gray. Your best bet would be to find a black gi. Aren’t there disciplines that use black ones? Or, if you do have to dye, make sure to get a 100% cotton. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-set-dye-in-clothing/143571/5 "2002-12-18T21:32:26Z")
1. Buy a black gi. Don’t ever try to dye polyester or blends. 2. Soaking something in salt water has always worked for me. Do it BEFORE you wash it for the first time, of course! ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-set-dye-in-clothing/143571/6 "2002-12-18T21:57:45Z")
The absolute best… mix of vinegar and salt. Grandma used to do it all the time with anything new that was a bright color the first time she washed it. I still do it myself, it works great. ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-set-dye-in-clothing/143571/7 "2002-12-18T23:36:51Z")
I use alum to make paint stick to cloth when I marble. I use acrylic paint on polyester and it stands up to hand washing at least. ---
**Author:** ![SwimmingRiddles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SwimmingRiddles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingRiddles)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-set-dye-in-clothing/143571/8 "2002-12-19T00:20:12Z")
I used to soak my annual tie dyed shirt in vinegar before I gave it to my father (EVERY year. The man’s a saint for pretending to love each one…) The one year I forgot, it turned all his tighty whiteies pink. So I’d say vinegar.