How to Dye a Shirt Black

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: November 8, 2019 References

You can upcycle and breathe new life into a shirt by dyeing it black, and it’s super easy to do it! Choose a black fabric dye that works for your shirt’s material and mix it together in a bucket of hot water. Soak the shirt in the dye for half an hour, and stir it occasionally so it’s evenly saturated with the dye. Rinse the shirt out with hot water to open up the fibers, then cold water to lock in the dye. Machine wash and dry it and you’re good to go!

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Mixing the Black Dye

1
Use a black fabric dye made for the fabric of your shirt. When you’re choosing a black dye for your shirt, check the packaging to make sure it’s compatible for the material that your shirt is made of. Some fabrics need certain types of dyes in order to absorb and retain the color.^{[1]
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- Check the tag on your shirt to find out what materials it’s made out of.
- Cotton, nylon, silk, linen, and wool are generally easy to dye. You may need to get a special fabric dye for polyester and acetate fabrics.
- You can find black fabric dye at department stores, craft stores, and online.
2
Lay down a plastic tarp over a flat surface to create a workspace. Use a flat surface like a table, counter, or even the ground and clear it of any obstacles. Place a plastic tarp, sheet, or newspapers on top to protect the surface and to keep the black fabric dye from getting onto it.^{[2]
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- You can find plastic tarps or dropcloths at department stores, home improvement stores, and online.
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3
Put on rubber gloves and wear clothes you don’t mind staining. Black dye is really powerful and can stain almost anything it touches, including skin and clothing. Put on a pair of rubber gloves before you start mixing your dye. Wear older clothes that you don’t mind getting stained just in case you spill or splash some dye on you.^{[3]
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- Many dye kits include gloves.
- You can find rubber gloves at department stores, pharmacies, and online.
Warning: Some dyes may be toxic if they’re absorbed through your skin. Wear rubber gloves to keep yourself protected.
4
Fill a medium-sized bucket with 1 gallon (3.8 L) of hot water. Add the water to a large pot and place it on the stove. Turn the heat setting to high and allow the water to come to a rolling boil. Turn off the heat and carefully pour the water into the bucket.^{[4]
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- Use cloths or potholders to hold the pot so you don’t burn your hands.
- Pour the water slowly so it doesn’t splash and potentially burn your skin.
5
Mix the dye with the hot water. Read the directions on the packaging to see how much dye you need to use. Pour the dye into the bucket and stir it well with a wooden spoon or a metal utensil.^{[5]
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- The amount of dye you need to add is dependent on how many shirts you plan to dye and how much they weigh.
6
Add ¹⁄₄ cup (59 mL) of salt to the mixture for a richer color. Adding a little bit of table salt to the dye mixture will make the shirt a deeper and richer shade of black. Pour the salt into the bucket and stir the mixture well.^{[6]
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- Use standard table salt to add to the mixture.
- Adding salt isn’t mandatory, but it will make your shirt a darker and richer shade of black.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Soaking the Shirt in the Dye Bath

1
Machine wash and dry the shirt so the fibers hold the dye better. Before you add your shirt to the dye bath, run it through a standard wash and dry cycle. This will clean off any dirt and debris on the shirt that could affect the quality of the dying and will open up the fibers to allow them to absorb the black fabric dye better.^{[7]
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- Make sure the shirt is dry so you can be sure the detergent has evaporated off of it.
2
Submerge the clean shirt into the dye mixture. Place the shirt into the bucket of dye mixture and use a spoon or utensil to fully submerge it beneath the surface. Move the shirt around the bucket to soak it completely and release any air bubbles that may be trapped in the material.^{[8]
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- Air bubbles can cause the shirt to dye unevenly.
3
Allow the shirt to soak for 30 minutes. Keep the shirt beneath the surface of the mixture in the bucket. Let it soak for at least half an hour to allow the fibers to absorb and lock in the black dye.^{[9]
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- After 30 minutes, lift the shirt out of the mixture with a utensil to check it. If it’s not quite as black as you want it to be, let it soak for another 30 minutes.
4
Stir the shirt around occasionally. While the shirt is soaking in the dye, use a spoon or a utensil to stir it around every now and then. The dye needs to saturate all of the shirt in order to have an even color when it’s finished.^{[10]
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- Stir the mixture every 5 minutes or so.
Tip: If you’re dyeing multiple shirts, stir the mixture every 2-3 minutes so all of the shirts are evenly soaked.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Rinsing out the Excess Dye

1
Pour out the dye mixture into a sink. The black dye mixture can stain almost anything it touches so dump it out in your sink so it washes away. Keep the shirt in the bucket so you can rinse it under the faucet.^{[11]
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- Run the faucet to wash the black dye mixture down the sink.
- The black dye will not damage your plumbing.
2
Run the shirt under hot water to open up the fibers. Start by rinsing the shirt under hot water first. The heat in the water will loosen and open up the fibers to help get rid of any excess dye that’s on the shirt.^{[12]
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- Let the faucet heat up so the water is hot, but not so hot that it burns your hands.
Tip: Don’t skip the hot water rinse! If you don’t rinse the shirt under hot water first, the dye may come off on your skin or other clothes when you wear it.
3
Wring out the excess water. Turn off the faucet and crumple up the shirt in your hands. Squeeze as hard as you can a few times to force out the water in the fibers as well as excess dye.^{[13]
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- Twist the shirt to help push out the water.
4
Rinse the shirt under cold water until the water runs clear. Turn the faucet back on, but set the water temperature so it’s cold. The cold water will tighten the fibers and lock in the black dye. Run the water through the shirt until the water turns clear and there isn’t any more dye.^{[14]
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- You can periodically squeeze and wring out the water from the shirt to help push out any of the remaining excess dye.
5
Machine wash and dry the shirt before you wear it. Before you wear the shirt, run it through a normal wash cycle in your washing machine. Then, dry it thoroughly by machine-drying it. When it’s finished, enjoy your newly dyed black shirt!^{[15]
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- Avoid washing the shirt with any of your other clothes during the first wash so you don’t risk staining anything.