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Categories
Personal Care and Style
Fashion
Fashion Styles
Color in Fashion
Dyeing Clothes and Fabric
How to Dye a Dress Download Article Co-authored by Amy Guerrero and Sophia Bell
Last Updated: June 8, 2025
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Getting Started
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Coloring Your Dress
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Q&A
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Things You'll Need
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This article was co-authored by Amy Guerrero and by wikiHow staff writer, Sophia Bell. Amy Guerrero is an Arts and Crafts Specialist and the Owner of Sunshine Craft Co., a crafting studio based in Phoenix, Arizona. Amy specializes in macrame, DIY crafting, and teaching fiber arts. She offers monthly in-person and online workshops along with having developed a range of DIY craft kits for at-home projects. Amy holds a BS in Industrial Design from Philadelphia University. She worked as a graphic designer before starting her own business. Sunshine Craft Co. is a creative hub that offers a wide range of workshops, tools, and resources for any craft project to inspire creativity and community engagement. This article has been viewed 152,442 times.
Dyeing a dress can transform it from something you never wear to your new favorite garment. You can choose any color you wish, or even mix colors to create the perfect shade. Take care to protect yourself and your workspace from the dye, and clean up as soon as you are finished.
Steps
Part 1 Part 1 of 2:
Getting Started
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1 Choose dye created for your specific fabric. Dye adheres differently to different fabrics, so read the garment tag to figure out what your dress is made from. Some companies, like Rit, make one dye for both natural and synthetic fibers, while other companies, like iDye, have one dye for natural fabrics and one for synthetic fabrics. Make sure you have enough dye to color the fabric to the desired shade.
Keep in mind that natural fabrics, like cotton, wool, silk, and linen, are more easily dyed than synthetic fabrics, like nylon, polyester, and acrylic.[1]XResearch source
2 Protect your workspace. Spread a drop cloth, plastic sheeting, or several layers of newspaper out on your workspace. Keep paper towels handy so you can immediately clean up any drips or spills.[2]XResearch source Advertisement
3 Wear old clothes and gloves. Choose clothes that you don’t mind getting dye on, or wear an apron over your clothes. Wear rubber gloves to keep the dye from soaking into your skin.[3]XResearch source
4 Soak your dress in warm water. It’s important to completely wet your dress before attempting to dye it so that the dye will be absorbed evenly. Fill a bucket or bathtub with warm water and submerge your dress until the fabric is completely soaked.[4]XResearch source
5 Fill a bucket or stainless steel sink with very hot water. Don’t attempt to dye fabrics in a porcelain sink or tub, as they may become stained. Ensure the bucket or sink is large enough for the garment to fit in loosely. Fill a bucket or stainless steel sink with the hottest water possible from the faucet. The amount of water you need will depend on how much dye you are using, so refer to the package instructions.[5]XResearch source
If your dress is made of wool, use warm rather than hot water to keep the fabric from felting.[6]XResearch source
6 Add the recommended amount of dye. Read the instructions on the package to determine how much dye to add based on how much water you used. Pour the dye into the water and use a stainless steel spoon to thoroughly mix the dye and water together.[7]XResearch source
If you don’t have a stainless steel spoon, choose a wooden yardstick or other stirring implement that you don’t mind getting dye on.
7 Stir in ¼ cup (59 mL) of salt for cotton or linen garments. Add ¼ cup (59 mL) of any kind of salt to the bucket or sink for each gallon of water and stir the mixture thoroughly. Salt helps the dye adhere to the fabric.[8]XResearch source
8 Add ¼ cup (59 mL) of vinegar for wool or silk garments. Stir in ¼ cup (59 mL) of vinegar to the bucket or sink for each gallon of water to help the fabric absorb the dye evenly and completely.[9]XResearch source
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Coloring Your Dress
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1 Submerge the dress in the dye. Carefully add your dress to the water and dye mixture, making sure that you don’t splash the dye out of the bucket or sink. Ensure all the fabric is completely submerged.[10]XResearch source
2 Stir the mixture constantly for 10 to 25 minutes. Use a stainless steel spoon or other stirring implement to stir the mixture constantly back and forth as well as up and down. Constant stirring ensures that the fabric is evenly dyed. The color you are trying to achieve will dictate how long you let the dress soak in the dye.[11]XResearch source
Check the color of the fabric every 5 minutes or so. Some of the dye will rinse out, so let the fabric soak until it is a shade or two darker than desired.
3 Remove your dress from the bucket or sink. Take care not to let the dress drip on unprotected surfaces. Move the dress to the other side of the sink or to the washing machine. Ensure the washing machine is empty before adding your dyed dress.[12]XResearch source
Don’t rinse your dress in the shower or tub if it is made of porcelain because the dye may stain it.
4 Rinse your dress until the water runs clear. Begin with hot water and gradually move to cold water to help the dye set. Alternatively, you could use the rinse cycle of your washing machine to get the dye out.[13]XResearch source
5 Hang the dress up to dry. Lay newspaper or a drop cloth under the dress to catch errant drips. Choose a plastic hanger so that any lingering dye doesn’t transfer to the hanger. Let the dress dry completely, and keep in mind that it will appear darker when wet.[14]XResearch source
6 Clean your bucket or sink immediately. Now that your dress is dyed, you need to clean up your workspace. Rinse your bucket or sink with hot water, then scrub it clean using a sponge or rag and soapy water. If you let the dye sit in the sink or bucket instead of cleaning it immediately, it may stain the surface.[15]XResearch source
7 Wash your dyed garment separately in cold water. The first few times you wash your dress, you should wash it alone or with dark colors that won’t be affected if the dye leaches out of the fabric. Use a mild detergent and set your washing machine to the cold cycle to help set the dye, as warm water may cause the color to fade.[16]XResearch source
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Question My new cotton dress has tiny spots from swimming pool chlorine in a small section on the skirt. Do I soak the whole dress in the dye or just that area? Community Answer You should probably soak that one area. This is easier to do if the spot is bigger, but it is possible with smaller spots as well. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 5
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Things You’ll Need
Dress
Fabric Dye
Old clothes or apron
Rubber gloves
Newspaper, drop cloth, or plastic sheeting
Paper towels
Bucket or stainless steel sink
Hot water
Salt or vinegar
Stainless steel spoon or other stirring implement
Cold water
Sponge or rag
Dish soap
Mild laundry detergent
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Co-authored by: Amy Guerrero Arts & Crafts Specialist This article was co-authored by Amy Guerrero and by wikiHow staff writer, Sophia Bell. Amy Guerrero is an Arts and Crafts Specialist and the Owner of Sunshine Craft Co., a crafting studio based in Phoenix, Arizona. Amy specializes in macrame, DIY crafting, and teaching fiber arts. She offers monthly in-person and online workshops along with having developed a range of DIY craft kits for at-home projects. Amy holds a BS in Industrial Design from Philadelphia University. She worked as a graphic designer before starting her own business. Sunshine Craft Co. is a creative hub that offers a wide range of workshops, tools, and resources for any craft project to inspire creativity and community engagement. This article has been viewed 152,442 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 7Updated: June 8, 2025 Views: 152,442 Categories: Dyeing Clothes and Fabric | Dresses and SkirtsArticle SummaryX
Dyeing a dress can change it from something you’d never wear to something you can’t stop wearing, and the process isn’t that difficult. Start by picking a dye that’s made for your specific fabric, since some dyes only work on natural or synthetic fabrics. When you’re ready to get to work, soak your dress in warm water so the dye will be evenly absorbed. Fill a bucket or stainless steel sink with hot water and add the recommended amount of dye. You’ll also want to add ¼ cup of salt for cotton or linen garments or ¼ cup vinegar for wool or silk clothing to help the dye adhere to the fabric. Once the dye bath is ready, submerge your dress in it for 10 to 25 minutes. Stir the mixture constantly to ensure that your dress is evenly dyed. When the dress is the shade you want, remove it from the dye and rinse is until the water runs clear. To learn how to machine wash your newly dyed dress, keep reading!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Download Article Co-authored by Amy Guerrero and Sophia Bell 
How to Dye Denim: A Step-by-Step Tutorial 
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Co-authored by: Amy Guerrero Arts & Crafts Specialist This article was co-authored by Amy Guerrero and by wikiHow staff writer, Sophia Bell. Amy Guerrero is an Arts and Crafts Specialist and the Owner of Sunshine Craft Co., a crafting studio based in Phoenix, Arizona. Amy specializes in macrame, DIY crafting, and teaching fiber arts. She offers monthly in-person and online workshops along with having developed a range of DIY craft kits for at-home projects. Amy holds a BS in Industrial Design from Philadelphia University. She worked as a graphic designer before starting her own business. Sunshine Craft Co. is a creative hub that offers a wide range of workshops, tools, and resources for any craft project to inspire creativity and community engagement. This article has been viewed 152,442 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 7 Updated: June 8, 2025 Views: 152,442 Categories: Dyeing Clothes and Fabric | Dresses and Skirts Article SummaryX
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1 Choose dye created for your specific fabric. Dye adheres differently to different fabrics, so read the garment tag to figure out what your dress is made from. Some companies, like Rit, make one dye for both natural and synthetic fibers, while other companies, like iDye, have one dye for natural fabrics and one for synthetic fabrics. Make sure you have enough dye to color the fabric to the desired shade. 
2 Protect your workspace. Spread a drop cloth, plastic sheeting, or several layers of newspaper out on your workspace. Keep paper towels handy so you can immediately clean up any drips or spills.[2] Advertisement 
3 Wear old clothes and gloves. Choose clothes that you don’t mind getting dye on, or wear an apron over your clothes. Wear rubber gloves to keep the dye from soaking into your skin.[3] 
4 Soak your dress in warm water. It’s important to completely wet your dress before attempting to dye it so that the dye will be absorbed evenly. Fill a bucket or bathtub with warm water and submerge your dress until the fabric is completely soaked.[4] 
8 Add ¼ cup (59 mL) of vinegar for wool or silk garments. Stir in ¼ cup (59 mL) of vinegar to the bucket or sink for each gallon of water to help the fabric absorb the dye evenly and completely.[9] Advertisement 
3 Remove your dress from the bucket or sink. Take care not to let the dress drip on unprotected surfaces. Move the dress to the other side of the sink or to the washing machine. Ensure the washing machine is empty before adding your dyed dress.[12] 
5 Hang the dress up to dry. Lay newspaper or a drop cloth under the dress to catch errant drips. Choose a plastic hanger so that any lingering dye doesn’t transfer to the hanger. Let the dress dry completely, and keep in mind that it will appear darker when wet.[14] 
6 Clean your bucket or sink immediately. Now that your dress is dyed, you need to clean up your workspace. Rinse your bucket or sink with hot water, then scrub it clean using a sponge or rag and soapy water. If you let the dye sit in the sink or bucket instead of cleaning it immediately, it may stain the surface.[15] 
7 Wash your dyed garment separately in cold water. The first few times you wash your dress, you should wash it alone or with dark colors that won’t be affected if the dye leaches out of the fabric. Use a mild detergent and set your washing machine to the cold cycle to help set the dye, as warm water may cause the color to fade.[16] Advertisement 
Community Answer You should probably soak that one area. This is easier to do if the spot is bigger, but it is possible with smaller spots as well. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 5 
Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy.