Download ArticleA nontoxic alternative to dyeing light-colored, natural fabrics
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This article was co-authored by Alina Bokovikova and by How.com.vn staff writer, Raven Minyard, BA. Alina Bokovikova is a Costume Designer from California. With over 15 years of experience, she specializes in designing costumes for stage productions. Alina earned an MFA in Costume Design from the University of California, San Diego and her Master of Education from the Novosibirsk Pedagogical University. She’s won two Outstanding Costume Design awards and her costumes have been displayed in Moscow, Prague, and San Jose, California.
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Dyeing with tea is an easy, inexpensive way to change the look of kitchen towels, T-shirts, or any item made of a natural fabric like cotton, linen, or wool. While the tea doesn't cause a drastic color change for white fabric, it can help hide light stains and give clothing a vintage look. In this article, we’ll walk you step-by-step through everything you need to know to dye fabric with tea.
Dyeing Fabric with Tea Bags
- Boil 4 cups (or about 1 liter) of water for every yard of fabric you plan to dye and steep at least 2 bags of black tea for every cup of water.
- Once the tea has reached your desired color, remove the bags and completely submerge your natural fabric (like cotton or silk) in the water.
- Let the fabric soak for at least an hour, then rinse in cold water and lay flat to dry. The longer the fabric soaks, the darker it will become.
Steps
Remove the tea bags from their packaging and cut off the strings. The number of bags you’ll use depends on the size of the fabric and how dark you want it to be. To prepare the tea, unwrap the tea bags and discard the packaging. Use a pair of scissors to remove the strings, and throw those away as well.[1]- How many tea bags should you use? In most cases, use 2 tea bags for every cup or 237 milliliters (8 fl oz) of water that you’re using. Add extra bags if you want your fabric to be a darker color.[2] You need to use enough water to cover the fabric, so the more water that you use, the more tea bags you’ll need.
- Tea works as a natural dye because it’s rich in tannins, which are molecules that bond well to natural fibers. Because of the tannins, you don’t need a mordant (a substance used to bind dye to fabric).[3]
- Black tea works best for dyeing fabric because it has the deepest color. Teas that are light in color, such as white or green teas, don't work as well.
- You can also use loose tea to dye your fabric if you prefer. However, the process is less messy if you use tea bags instead.
- Boil a large pot of water with salt in it. Fill a large pot with enough water to cover your fabric and allow it to move freely. Mix in some table salt and place the pot on the stove. Turn the heat to high, and bring the water to a full boil.[4]
- How much water should you use? In general, use 4 cups or 1 liter (0.26 US gal) of water for every yard or meter of fabric that you’re dyeing.[5]
- How much salt should you use? Use 2 tablespoons (34.14 g) of salt for every 4 cups or 1 liter (0.26 US gal) of water.
- Adding salt to the water will help set the color in the fabric so it won’t come out as easily when you wash the items.
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Steep the tea for at least 15 minutes. Once the water comes to a boil, remove the pot from the heat and place the tea bags inside. Let the bags soak in the water until the color comes out of the tea.[6]- The longer that you allow the tea to soak, the more color will come out and the darker your dyed fabric will be. Keep checking on the water to see if you’re happy with the color before you add the fabric.
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- Wash or wet the fabric and wring it out. The fabric that you’re dyeing should be wet when you dye it. Wash pre-used fabric to remove any stains or dirt, or if you’re using new fabric, rinse it in water before dyeing. Wring out the excess water before you begin the dyeing process.[7]
- Tea dyeing will only work on natural fibers, such as cotton, silk, linen, and wool. It won't work on synthetic fabric, such as polyester.
- While you should wring out the fabric before dyeing it, don’t allow it to dry completely.
- Remove the tea bags from your pot of water and add the fabric. When your tea has reached the desired color, carefully remove all of the tea bags from the water and discard them. Place the wet fabric in the tea water and make sure that it’s completely submerged.
- Swirl the fabric around with a wooden spoon or other stirring instrument to ensure that it rests at the bottom of the pot and is completely under the water.
- Some areas of the fabric may start popping up in the water. Use spoons or other kitchen tools to hold it down.
- If you want to dye an important fabric, like an heirloom piece, test the process with a scrap of the same fabric to make sure you like the results.
Soak the fabric in the tea for at least an hour. Once all of the fabric is submerged in the tea bath, allow it to soak for at least 60 minutes to fully absorb the color. Keep in mind that the longer that you leave the fabric in the tea, the darker it will be dyed.[8]- To create a very deep color, try soaking it in the tea overnight.
- Gently stir or agitate the fabric in the tea bath every so often while it’s soaking. That will help ensure that it dyes evenly.
- Lift the fabric out of the tea at regular intervals to see how dark it has become. However, be aware that the fabric will dry lighter than it appears when wet, so you may need to continue soaking it longer than you think.[9]
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- Rinse and soak the fabric in cold water and vinegar. Once you’re happy with the fabric’s color, remove it from the tea bath. Give it a quick rinse in cold water then soak it for 10 minutes in a pot of cold water. Add a splash of vinegar to the water to help set the color.[10]
- If you’re bothered by the tea scent of the fabric, remove the smell by handwashing it with laundry detergent meant for delicate items.
- Laundry tip: When washing the fabric after it’s been dyed, avoid using regular laundry detergents that can remove tea stains. Instead, try using lemon and vinegar or a natural fabric soap.[11]
- Wring out the excess water and air dry the fabric. After the fabric has soaked in the cold water and vinegar mixture, remove it from the pot and wring out the excess water. Lay the fabric out flat in a warm, sunny spot, and allow it to dry completely.[12]
- Depending on the type of fabric that you’re dyeing, you may want to throw the fabric in the dryer instead of air drying it.
- Iron the fabric. Many fabrics wrinkle easily when placed in the pot to dye, and because you’re laying it flat to dry, the wrinkles won’t be removed during the drying process. Iron the fabric to smooth it and give it a more attractive appearance.[13]
- Take the fabric type into account before ironing. While durable fabrics such as cotton and linen hold up well to heat, delicate materials like silk need to be ironed more gently. Heavy wool requires the steam setting. Consult the instruction manual for your iron to determine the best setting for your fabric.
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Community Q&A
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- QuestionShould I use white vinegar?
Community AnswerYes, you should. - QuestionCan I use decaffeinated tea when dying fabric?
Susan Trent TerockCommunity AnswerIt doesn't matter. It's all about the depth of color, and caffeine won't affect color saturation. - QuestionWill this work on polyester white fabric?
Community AnswerI don't think so. I have tried it, and it still came out white.
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Tips
- Create a spotted effect on the fabric by sprinkling it with salt crystals when you lay it out to dry. The salt will absorb some of the color to create small spots.Thanks
- When it comes to dyeing fabrics with tea, cotton usually takes the color best.Thanks
- After you’ve soaked the fabric for at least an hour, don’t throw the tea out right away. You may want to return the fabric to the water if you aren’t happy with the color.Thanks
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Warnings
- Make sure there aren’t any air bubbles trapped in the fabric, either.Thanks
- When dyeing the fabric, make sure it isn’t overcrowded in the pot. This often results in splotchy, uneven dye jobs.Thanks
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Things You’ll Need
- A large pot
- 4 cups (1 liter) of water for every yard or meter of fabric
- Black tea bags
- Scissors
- Salt
- White, natural-fiber fabric (like cotton, linen, wool, or silk)
- A wooden spoon
- Cold water
- Vinegar
References
- ↑ https://youtu.be/Jrr5wNetOS8?t=59
- ↑ https://www.bycurated.com/tea-staining-fabric/
- ↑ https://www.rosemaryandpinesfiberarts.de/tannins-as-natural-mordants/
- ↑ https://www.1millionwomen.com.au/blog/natural-dying-tea-coffee/
- ↑ https://www.bycurated.com/tea-staining-fabric/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/Jrr5wNetOS8?t=92
- ↑ https://www.1millionwomen.com.au/blog/natural-dying-tea-coffee/
- ↑ https://www.1millionwomen.com.au/blog/natural-dying-tea-coffee/
- ↑ https://www.knitheartstrings.com/bit-size-tutorials/tea-dyeing.php
About This Article
Costume Designer
This article was co-authored by Alina Bokovikova and by How.com.vn staff writer, Raven Minyard, BA. Alina Bokovikova is a Costume Designer from California. With over 15 years of experience, she specializes in designing costumes for stage productions. Alina earned an MFA in Costume Design from the University of California, San Diego and her Master of Education from the Novosibirsk Pedagogical University. She’s won two Outstanding Costume Design awards and her costumes have been displayed in Moscow, Prague, and San Jose, California. This article has been viewed 393,528 times.
Co-authors: 12
Updated: May 11, 2024
Views: 393,528
Categories: Dyeing Clothes and Fabric
Article SummaryX
To dye fabric with tea, steep the tea in boiling water for at least 15 minutes, using 1 bag for every 8 oz. of water. For a darker fabric color, choose a black tea, and for a lighter, yellowish color, choose a green or white tea. Once the tea is steeped, rinse a natural fabric, like cotton or silk, in regular tap water until it is soaked. Then, submerge the fabric in the water, stirring it with a wooden spoon, and leave it in the tea for at least an hour. After an hour, remove the fabric and rinse it with cool tap water before hanging it up to dry. For tips on locking in the color with a vinegar rinse, read on!
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Reader Success Stories
"I had a piece of white monk's cloth that I wanted to embroider and subsequently use for a table runner. Unfortunately, something was spilled on the fabric and the result was a stain that could not entirely be removed. I decided to tea dye the fabric. I read through the process recommended here to ensure that I used vinegar for the setting at the proper step."..." more
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