Rit All-Purpose Dye can dye:

• Washable Fabrics Containing Natural Fibers: Such as cotton, linen, wool, silk, ramie and modal
• Washable Fabrics Containing Synthetic Fibers: Such as nylon, rayon and viscose
• Washable Fabrics Containing Cotton Synthetic Blends: Such as polyester cotton blends that contain less than 35% polyester
• Fabric Shoes: Such as cotton canvas sneakers and satin shoes made of silk
• Unfinished Wood and Wicker: Such as furniture, picture frames, moldings, shutters, wicker baskets, straw, rattan and sisal squares
• Natural Dried Plants and Pine Cones: Such as dried cornhusks, milkweed, goldenrod, thistle, foxtails and pine cones
• Paper: Such as watercolor paper and newspaper for papercrafts and cardmaking
• Miscellaneous Items: Such as unfinished clay, cement, cork, feathers, fabric lampshades, paraffin (powder dye only), cotton and nylon rope, sand and seashells
• Food for Crafts: Such as dried beans, eggshells, seeds and macaroni

Rit DyeMore for Synthetics can dye:

• Washable Fabrics Containing Synthetic Fibers: Such as polyester, acetate and acrylic
• Washable Fabrics Containing Synthetic Blends: Such as polyester cotton blends that contain more than 35% polyester
• Nylon-Based Plastics: Such as buttons, fasteners, golf balls, lacrosse sticks and 3D printing items
• Miscellaneous Plastic Items: Such as legos or sunglasses

• Fiberglass, spandex, and metallic fibers
• Fabrics with severe bleach or stain damage,
• Fabrics with rubber backings
• Fabrics with special finishes, such as waterproof or stain resistant finishes
• Fabrics labeled Washable Only in Cold Water or Dry Clean Only

Unfortunately, we do not sell a white dye. However, if the garment you are wanting to dye is a natural fabric (such as cotton, linen, silk, wool or ramie), then you can remove the black color using Rit Color Remover. This will bring the garment to a white or off-white color. Then, launder it with Rit Whitener Brightener to lighten the color. Unfortunately, if your garment has more than 35% synthetic material (such as polyester, acrylic or acetate), then you cannot remove or whiten the color on the garment.

If you are using Rit All-Purpose Dye, the most realistic test would be to use a scrap piece of fabric from the garment you are dyeing. However, you can also test color by dipping a paper towel into the dyebath. Paper towel is made of fibers that react to the dye in a similar way that cotton would.

If you are using Rit DyeMore Synthetic Dye, we recommend first heating up the dyebath on your stove to almost boiling. The most realistic test would be to use a scrap piece of fabric from the garment you are dyeing and leave it in the dyebath for 5 minutes. If a scrap piece of fabric isn’t available, then use a fabric swatch that has a similar fiber makeup as the garment (if available). Unfortunately, due to the complexities of dye synthetics, using a paper towel to test color will not give you a close representation of how the color will appear on your synthetic garment. It is worth a try if you do not have a fabric swatch available, but please keep in mind that it won’t provide you with an exact match. If color is too light, add more dye; if color is too dark, add more water. If more dye is needed, add dye in increments of 1/4 to 1 teaspoon, depending upon the recipe or amount of fabric being dyed. If color is too dark, add hot water in 1 to 2 cup increments, depending upon size of dyebath and amount of fabric being dyed.

To get even color, make sure the dyebath is large enough for the fabric to flow freely while it’s being stirred. If it’s too bunched up, you may get splotches or light and dark areas. Also, stirring the fabric continuously while dyeing promotes consistent exposure to the dye.

It really depends on the desired shade and fabric. To achieve the color on the box or bottle, we suggest 30 to 60 minutes with continuous stirring. For lighter shades, we suggest 10 to 20 minutes. For 100% polyester and polyester blends, at least 30 minutes is needed for the dye to be absorbed into the fabric, even if fabric appears to have reached the desired shade in less time. Nylon tends to dye very quickly and much darker than other fibers so the actual time needed in the dyebath is much less. Colors always appear darker when wet and will dry lighter. So keep that in mind before removing an item from the dyebath.

Yes! It doesn’t matter if it is a new item or old. Pre-washing in warm, soapy water removes any finishes that may interfere with dye absorption.

What a good question! Rit loves hot water because it loosens the fibers in the fabric to accept the dye. We recommend using the hottest water safe for your fabric. However, if you want specific temperatures, here they are!

• If dyeing natural fabrics (such as cotton, linen, silk or wool), use Rit All-Purpose Dye at 140° to 160°F (60 to 71°C). If tap water is not hot enough, heat water on the stove and add to the dyebath.
• If dyeing a material that contains more than 35% synthetic material (such as polyester, acrylic or acetate), use Rit DyeMore for Synthetics at 180° to 220°F (82° to 104°C). To do this, you will need to dye with the stovetop method.

Our dyes are created based on the premise that they will dye white or light colored fabric the color of the dye. So when our Black or Graphite dye is applied to a colored fabric, the original color of the fabric may still show through. To address this, we recommend adding an additional color to counteract the undertones of the existing color. As an example, if you were dyeing red fabric, we would recommend adding some green dye to your dyebath. Since mixing red and green makes black, adding a green dye to your dyebath will counteract the red on the fabric.

We have an entire page dedicated to helping you get as rich of a color as possible. You can find it here. However, the key three things are: (1) use the stovetop method, (2) double the dye quantity and (3) use Rit ColorStay Dye Fixative after dyeing (but before washing).

It depends upon the weight of the item you are dyeing. As a general guideline, one box of powder dye or 4 ounces of liquid dye will color one pound of dry weight fabric (about 3 yards of lightweight fabric or two adult large t-shirts). To obtain a lighter color, use less dye. For a darker or brighter color, double the amount of dye. We recommend at least 1 bottle of Rit All-Purpose Dye or 2 bottles of Rit DyeMore for darker colors. If dyeing 100% polyester, we recommend at least 1 bottle of Rit DyeMore. You can estimate the weight of the item or use a food or home postal scale. For larger items, such as bedding or curtains, weigh yourself; then weigh yourself holding the item(s). The difference is the weight of the item(s).

Rit is only recommended for use with fabrics that can be washed in hot water. If a fabric is labeled “Cold Water Wash” or “Dry Clean Only,” there could be damage to the fabric if it is dyed in hot water. “Dry Clean Only” fabrics are often used in garments with interfacing and linings. These fabrics could shrink and cause puckering and unsatisfactory results.

Absolutely not! There is nothing in Rit that can in any way weaken, harm or deteriorate any textile fiber.

Very often the thread used in the manufacturing of clothing is 100% polyester. While Rit DyeMore dyes polyester, Rit All-Purpose Dye does not. Accordingly, if you are using Rit All-Purpose Dye, the thread will remain its original color. This can create an interesting design effect, but it’s important to keep this in mind if that’s not the effect you want.

Our time-tested dye formulas are a combination of various acid, disperse and direct dyes, along with sodium chloride. These various dye classes are used so that you can dye a wide variety of fabrics and materials. Our dyes are also non-toxic, as determined by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Rit is non-toxic and contains no harmful chemicals. However, it is not a vegetable or food-grade dye so we do not recommend it for toys that children will chew on.

Yes! Rit products may be safely flushed through both sewer and septic systems.

We are vegan and do not test ingredients or finished Rit products on animals. In fact, we develop our products to be safe for you, your home, your pets and the environment, and thus would never harm any animal in the process.

Our favorite question! Ideally, take a hot shower and use regular bath soap. For a quick fix, mix sugar with hand lotion or use a body scrub to exfoliate it off. If you still have some dye left on your hands and want it off immediately, then you could apply a cleanser (such as Comet) on a brush with a little water. A second wash in clean soapy water will ensure that no cleanser remains on your hands to dry or damage the skin.

Rit has an unlimited shelf life. When storing liquid dyes, be sure the cap is secure to prevent evaporation. Powder dyes should be stored in a cool, dry place. If you want to store powder dye after it has been mixed with water, you can do so in an airtight container.