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plating, anodizing, & finishing Q&As since 1989

"Un-Tie Dye?"

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Hi! I tie-dyed with Rit Dye [affil link] and was wondering if there is a way to remove the dye....I know of Rit dye remover [affil link] but it isn't sold in my part of the country. Bleach lightened the dye but didn't remove it. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Katryn McCully
- Boise, Idaho, USA

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Bleach it again with less dilution? My experience, which is limited, is that these are organic dyes which bleach will destroy.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

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You can remove dyes using Thiourea dioxide. This is available from vendors on-line. If you do a search, you should come up with places that specialize in supplying dye-stuffs to the home crafter. Carbona, the spot removal people make a dye remover. Probably the same as Rit. It can be found in grocery stores or at places like K-mart. I would not use bleach if I could avoid it. If you are removing dye from cotton fabric, the bleach will weaken the fibers a lot. It will totally dissolve silk.

Ronna Erickson
- Amherst, Massachusetts