Can You Dye Polyester?

Dyeing a garment is a great way to add a personal touch to clothing. It is possible to dye polyester; however, the process is more complicated than it is for other fabrics. The dyes must be specifically designed for synthetic fibers. These products are called disperse dyes; other types of dye do not affect polyester. The dyeing methods can be categorized as immersion and iron-on. Learning about these methods ensures that consumers purchase the right supplies for their dyeing projects.

Immersion Dyeing
Immersion dyeing is the method most commonly used in factories. It requires special chemicals and high temperatures, but doing it at home is also possible provided the work area has plenty of ventilation, and safety goggles and a mask are worn. Do not use any pots or spoons used with food, or work in an area where food is prepared. The process is done in a stainless steel, enamel, or heat-resistant glass container because aluminum reacts with the dye. Wear an apron or old clothes and gloves to prevent stains.

Preparing the Fabric
Place the fabric in a 5 gallon pot filled with water and then heat it until it is boiling. Add a small amount of soda ash and about 3 milliliters of Synthrapol for every pound of fabric. The fabric should stay in this solution for about 10 minutes.

Soda ash or sodium carbonate is the active ingredient in washing soda. It changes the pH of the dye so that it reacts with the polyester fibers, making a permanent connection that holds the color. Synthrapol is a special detergent used for scouring fibers before dyeing to improve dye penetration. It is also used to wash out fiber reactive dyes at the end of the dyeing process.

Mixing the Dye
Remove the fabric from the pot and add 1 cup of water and the dye to a second pot. The exact amount of dye used depends on its brand and color. This chart estimates the amount of dye needed for various shades.

dd the dye in small quantities as it is easy to add more if the shade is too pale. Test the results on a small fabric sample before dyeing an entire garment.

Dyeing the Fabric

Fill the 5 gallon pot on the stove again. For every 2.5 gallons of water, add 10 teaspoons of vinegar, 2.5 milliliters of Synthrapol, and the dye already diluted in the second pot. Stir the water thoroughly, then put the polyester fabric back into the pot, and bring it to a boil for about 40 minutes. Stir it occasionally to make sure the dye reaches all parts of the fabric.

When the fabric is dyed completely, transfer it to a second pot of boiling water. Then, add 3 milliliters of Synthrapol and let the fabric boil for about 10 minutes. This removes any odor resulting from the dyeing process. Lastly, rinse the fabric in warm water and let it air dry.


Iron-On Methods
The immersion method of dyeing polyester can be inconvenient. Fortunately, there are faster, more convenient ways to dye polyester at home using iron-on methods.

Fabric Crayons and Markers
Instead of drawing directly on polyester, hobbyists can use fabric crayons on paper and then iron the images onto the fabric. Any writing should be backwards so that it comes out the right way on the fabric. The crayons do not look brightly colored on paper, but they become vivid when transferred to fabric.

Heat Set Ink
Heat set ink is a type of disperse dye applied to polyester with rubber stamps and then set with an iron. After the ink is applied to the fabric, let it dry for about 15 minutes. Then, put a piece of paper over it to keep the polyester from melting and iron it on the highest setting.