- 1). Wash the shower curtains as normal. Dry the curtains in the clothes dryer or on a clothesline according to the fabric care instructions. If in doubt, hang the curtains to dry.
- 2). Place the washing machine on a large load setting and on a hot water cycle. Leave the machine lid open. Fill the machine with hot water.
- 3). Put on rubber gloves. Paula Burch's All About Hand Dyeing website says you should always wear gloves when using dyes. Though many dyes are nontoxic, few tests have been conducted as to the safety of dyes on skin.
- 4). Fill a glass measuring container with 2 cups of hot water. Open the dye packages. Pour the powder into the hot water. Use a plastic spoon to stir the powder. Continue stirring until the powder is completely dissolved. Pour the dissolved dye water into the washing machine. Do not close the lid or begin any cycles.
- 5). Hold the curtains beneath the sink and saturate the fabric with hot water. Don't squeeze the fabric so you won't create any unnecessary wrinkles. When the curtains are wet, loosely push them under the dye water in the washing machine.
- 6). Allow the curtains to remain immersed in the dye water for about 30 minutes. Do not close the lid or begin a cycle. After 30 minutes, pull a section of the curtain from the water and observe. The fabric will dry lighter than it appears when wet. Decide if you want the color darker and, if so, allow the curtains to dye for another 15 minutes.
- 7). Switch the washing machine water selection to cold. Select a rinse cycle. Rinse the curtains until the water is clear. This might require more than one rinse cycle.
- 8). Fill the machine with hot water. Add a permanent dye fixative to protect the dye from running when you wash the shower curtains. Permanent dye fixatives are available online and in craft and quilting stores.
- 9). Add 1 tsp. of fixative to the washing machine for every fabric yard of curtains. Measure your shower curtains if you're unsure. Allow the machine to agitate for about 20 minutes. Because fixative products differ according to brand, always follow the packaging instructions.
- 10
Dry the curtains in the dryer or hang on a clothesline according to the fabric care instructions.
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