Here’s How To Prepare Natural Dyes To Colour Fabrics At Home

Dyeing clothes are a great and an age-old method to give the fabric a new and unique look. While white and planes seem classy, patterns have its own charisma. Why waste oodles of money buying chemical dye, when you can prepare it naturally at home for free. However, not all fabric can be easily dyed with natural methods. The one you will easily be able to dye is those made from natural materials themselves. Such as Cotton, silk, wool, and linen. If you want o dye synthetic fabric, do mind that it will usually be lighter in colour. It's best to first try to find a similar scrap of fabric and dye that first. 

Prepare The Fabric 

• In order to create long-lasting dyed fabric, first, boil the piece of clothing in saltwater. 
• You will need 1/4 cup salt to 4 cups of water. 
• Also, add one cup of vinegar. Boil for one hour.
• Lastly, rinse the fabric in cold water and squeeze well. Once it is a bit dry soak it in the prepared natural dye until it reaches the desired colour.

Spinach For Green 

Ingredients 

• 4 cups of fresh green spinach 
• Saucepan
• 10 cups Tap water 

Steps 

• Start by chopping spinach and place it in a small saucepan. 
• Now, pour twice as much water as you have spinach. Turn on the stove and bring it to a boil. 
• Keep stirring, then allow it to cook on low flame for an hour. And then turn off the stove. 
• Once the mixture has cooled, strain it well and now can start using spinach to dye fabric.

Beets For Red & Pink 

Ingredients

•  5-6 beets
• 2 cups vinegar
• 8 cups of water
• Large stockpot
• Cotton dishtowels

Steps 

• Start by chopping beets unevenly. Place the pieces of beets in the pot and pour water. 
• Cook on low flame for an hour. Once the dye water turns deep red in colour, remove the beets using a spoon. 
• Turn the stove off, let the solution come to room temperature. If you want a red colour on the fabric dip the cloth in the solution.
• For pink add 2 more cups of water and then dip your cloth. Leave overnight for the best results. 

Onion For Rosy Browns

Ingredients 

• 1 bowl onion skin
• 4 cups of water 
• Deep-bottomed pan 

Steps 

• You can use fresh or old stored onion peels. Place the onion skins into the pan and add water. 
• Boil the solution on high flame for 15-minutes. Stir and then put on low flame. Boil for another 30-45 minutes. 
• Once you attain brownish colour strain the skins off and discard them.
• Now, leave the mixture to cool down naturally. 

Lemon For Light Yellow 

Ingredients

• 1 bowl dried lemon peel 
• 4 cups of water 
• Stainless steel pot with lid

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Steps 

• Place the lemon peels in the stainless steel pot. Add water. 
• Turn on the flame, bring the water to a boil for at least 15-minutes.  
• Now, turn down the heat, and let the peels cook for 15 to 20 minutes. 
• You will notice the water changing colour. Strain out the peels and discard. 

Cabbage For Dark Purple 

Ingredients 

• 2 cups of purple cabbage 
• Deep-bottomed pan 
• 5 cups tap water 

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Steps 

• Begin by finely chopping cabbage. Place in the pan.  
• Add twice as much water as you have cabbage that is around 5 cups of water. Turn on the stove and boil the mixture. 
• Keep stirring, then allow it to cook on low flame for one hour. 
• And then turn off the stove and let the solution cool down naturally. 
• Now, strain it well and lastly start using cabbage to dye the fabric.