How To Dye Fabric Black: 12 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Dye Fabric Black PDF download Download Article Co-authored by Natalie Hanrion and Kyle Hall

Last Updated: October 24, 2025 Fact Checked

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  • Making a Dye Bath
    • |
  • Dyeing
    • |
  • Rinsing and Washing
    • |
  • Video
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  • Expert Interview
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  • Q&A
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This article was co-authored by Natalie Hanrion and by wikiHow staff writer, Kyle Hall. Natalie Hanrion is a Costume Designer based in Fredericksburg, Virginia. She is the owner of Archaic Costumes and Designs, LLC. Natalie characterizes her approach to costuming as “fantasy and whimsical meets historical”. She loves making historically-inspired costumes and approaches her work with an appreciation for classical training and historical accuracy while valuing the freedom to create what comes to mind. Natalie grew up sewing and crafting, which gave her invaluable insight into materials and adhesives. In addition to modeling her own creations, she has created an online marketplace for her costumes on Etsy and has also built a community of costume enthusiasts on social media where she enjoys sharing videos about her methods and processes. She also takes commissions to create custom pieces. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 404,505 times.

Whether you're looking to make a light fabric dark or darken a pair of faded black jeans, black fabric dye can help. Black fabric dye will give your fabric a vibrant, brand-new looking color again.

Steps

Part 1 Part 1 of 3:

Making a Dye Bath

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  1. Step 1 Use a black... 1 Use a black fabric dye designed for your kind of fabric.[1] If your fabric is made out of natural fibers like cotton, linen, silk, and wool, most fabric dyes will work. If your fabric is made out of synthetic materials like polyester, spandex, and acrylic, look for a black fabric dye that says “synthetic fibers” on the label. Non-synthetic fabric dyes may not dye fabrics made with synthetic materials.[2]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Dye Fabric Black 2 Fill a large container with boiling hot water. If you're dyeing natural fibers, a large bowl or bucket will work. Make sure the container is large enough to hold the piece of fabric you're dyeing, then fill the container with enough water that you'll be able to completely submerge your piece of fabric. If you're dyeing synthetic fabrics, heat a large pot of water on the stove to a temperature of 200 °F (93 °C) or higher and maintain it for the duration of the dye bath. Otherwise, the fabric may not absorb the color effectively.[3]
    • Avoid using bowls or utensils that you also use for food.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Dye Fabric Black 3 Pour black fabric dye into the container of water. Read the label on the back of the fabric dye to see how much you should use.[4] Keep in mind that the more fabric dye you use, the darker the final color will be. If you want your fabric to be a dark, solid black, you may want to use an entire container of fabric dye. Stir the dye thoroughly with a spoon.[5]
    • You can find a black fabric dye online or at your local fabric store.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Dye Fabric Black 4 Add table salt to the dye bath if you want a more vibrant color. Use .25 cups (59 mL) of salt per .5 pounds (0.23 kg) of fabric you're dyeing. Thoroughly stir the salt into the dye bath with a spoon.[6]
    • For example, if you're dyeing 3 pounds (1.4 kg) of fabric, you would use 1.5 cups (350 mL) of salt.
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Part 2 Part 2 of 3:

Dyeing

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Dye Fabric Black 1 Put the fabric in the dye bath. Wet the fabric in plain water before submerging it in the bath.[7] Press it down into the water using a long metal utensil, like a spatula or spoon, to get out any air bubbles.[8]
    • Wear gloves and old clothes during this process so you don't stain your skin or ruin whatever you're wearing if the dye bath splashes.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Dye Fabric Black 2 Stir the fabric in the dye bath periodically with a metal utensil. As you're stirring it, turn the fabric over in the container and unfold it with the utensil. That way all of the fabric will be exposed to the dye.[9]
  3. Step 3 Let the fabric soak in the dye bath for 30-60 minutes. 3 Let the fabric soak in the dye bath for 30-60 minutes. The longer you let the fabric soak in the dye bath, the darker the final color will be. Make sure you let the fabric soak for at least 30 minutes or the dye may not stick to the fabric.[10] Sasha Duerr Sasha Duerr, Botanical Color & Natural Dyeing Expert

    When seeking to dye fabric an opaque, rich black, iron-heavy oak galls produce the most lightfast results. Simmer powdered oak galls for an hour, then immerse pre-mordanted wool, silk, or plant fibers for 30-60 minutes. The high tannin content binds the iron to the fibers, imparting a deep charcoal shade that does not easily fade or bleed when washed.

  4. Step 4 Dump the dye bath out in a sink or bathtub. 4 Dump the dye bath out in a sink or bathtub. Once all the dye is down the drain, leave the piece of fabric in the sink or tub.[11] Avoid dumping the dye bath out outside or down any sink except stainless steel, as the dye may stain porcelain and non-steel surfaces. If you don't have a stainless steel sink, remove dye stains from the porcelain in your sink or tub with rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, or baking soda.[12]
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Part 3 Part 3 of 3:

Rinsing and Washing

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Dye Fabric Black 1 Apply a dye fixative before you rinse the fabric for an enhanced color. Dye fixative will help the dye cling to the fibers in your fabric so the final color looks more vibrant. If you decide to use a dye fixative, spray it over the entire surface of the fabric so the fabric is heavily coated. Let the dye fixative soak into the fabric for 20 minutes.[13]
    • You can find dye fixative online or at your local fabric store.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Dye Fabric Black 2 Rinse the excess dye off of the fabric with hot water at first. Rinse the fabric in the sink or tub you dumped the dye bath out in. Unfold the fabric so that it's all exposed to the running water.[14]
  3. Step 3 Rinse the fabric under cold water until the water runs clear. 3 Rinse the fabric under cold water until the water runs clear. Make sure you wait until the water runs clear or there could still be leftover dye in the fabric. Once the water runs clear, stop rinsing the fabric and ring out any excess water.[15]
  4. Step 4 Machine wash and dry the fabric by itself on a normal setting. 4 Machine wash and dry the fabric by itself on a normal setting. Washing the fabric by itself will prevent any leftover dye from transferring to your other laundry. After its first wash, your fabric should be OK to wash with your other laundry.[16]
    • If you're worried about your fabric shrinking in the dryer, hang dry it instead.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question Must fixative be mixed with water? T. Chinsen T. Chinsen Top Answerer The manufacturers recommend soaking the dyed garment in a mix of the fixative and hot water. Due to toxicity of the chemicals, gloves and a bucket should be used. Do not use cooking pots or any food utensils. Read instructions before using the fixative. 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 12 Helpful 36
  • Question I have died white lace to black with regular dye, which came out gray. I used synthetic; some came out black, but a good portion was gray. Used regular dye again, doubled dye and it still came out gray. Any ideas? Community Answer Community Answer Try a different dye that is stronger. Also, are you keeping it in the dye long enough? If this still doesn't work, attempt dyeing it again. 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 20 Helpful 15
  • Question I dyed a white cotton hat black and the color keeps fading. I left it in the dye overnight twice and it's still not working, what can I do? Wendy Coats Wendy Coats Community Answer Ritz dye works great on fabric. I use it to dye feathers and t-shirts with minimal fading. 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 4 Helpful 12
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Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about costume design, check out our in-depth interview with Natalie Hanrion.

References

  1. ↑ Natalie Hanrion. Costume Designer. Expert Interview
  2. ↑ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bring-science-home-brightest-dye/
  3. ↑ Natalie Hanrion. Costume Designer. Expert Interview
  4. ↑ Natalie Hanrion. Costume Designer. Expert Interview
  5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwqbCYiPMT0&feature=youtu.be&t=25
  6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7M61pYYlOk&feature=youtu.be&t=126
  7. ↑ Natalie Hanrion. Costume Designer. Expert Interview
  8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7M61pYYlOk&feature=youtu.be&t=150
  9. ↑ https://www.younghouselove.com/how-to-dye-clothes/
More References (7)
  1. ↑ https://www.younghouselove.com/how-to-dye-clothes/
  2. ↑ https://www.mamiesschoolhouse.com/dyebath
  3. ↑ Natalie Hanrion. Costume Designer. Expert Interview
  4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwqbCYiPMT0&feature=youtu.be&t=57
  5. ↑ https://www.collegefashion.net/fashion-tips/how-to-use-rit-dye-to-update-your-clothes/
  6. ↑ https://www.collegefashion.net/fashion-tips/how-to-use-rit-dye-to-update-your-clothes/
  7. ↑ https://www.collegefashion.net/fashion-tips/how-to-use-rit-dye-to-update-your-clothes/

About This Article

Natalie Hanrion Co-authored by: Natalie Hanrion Costume Designer This article was co-authored by Natalie Hanrion and by wikiHow staff writer, Kyle Hall. Natalie Hanrion is a Costume Designer based in Fredericksburg, Virginia. She is the owner of Archaic Costumes and Designs, LLC. Natalie characterizes her approach to costuming as “fantasy and whimsical meets historical”. She loves making historically-inspired costumes and approaches her work with an appreciation for classical training and historical accuracy while valuing the freedom to create what comes to mind. Natalie grew up sewing and crafting, which gave her invaluable insight into materials and adhesives. In addition to modeling her own creations, she has created an online marketplace for her costumes on Etsy and has also built a community of costume enthusiasts on social media where she enjoys sharing videos about her methods and processes. She also takes commissions to create custom pieces. This article has been viewed 404,505 times. 2 votes - 70% Co-authors: 10 Updated: October 24, 2025 Views: 404,505 Categories: Dyeing Clothes and Fabric Article SummaryX

The best way to dye fabric black is to fill a large container with hot water and add black fabric dye. Use more dye for a darker black, or add a 1/4 cup of salt per 1/2 pound of fabric you’re dyeing to make the final color more vibrant. Submerge the fabric in the dye bath for 30-60 minutes and stir the bath periodically. Then, remove the fabric from the dye bath and rinse it until the water runs clear. For help washing your black fabric after you've dyed it, read on! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

  • Anon

    Anon

    Apr 25, 2023

    "I've never dyed any clothing before and did not know how to start. Your instructions were very clear. "
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Yes No Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Natalie Hanrion Co-authored by: Natalie Hanrion Costume Designer 2 votes - 70% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 10 Updated: October 24, 2025 Views: 404,505 Anon

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