How to Use the Get Black to Back Kit
Tips
Is your favourite black clothing faded? Now with Rit’s Get Black Back Dye Kit, you can restore clothing back to a rich black in just a few easy steps. This kit can also be used to overdye clothing of any colour to a vibrant black. And for tie-dyeing too! Included is Jet Black All-Purpose Dye, our darkest, richest black ever. Proudly non-toxic and safe for sewer and septic systems. The kit also includes ColorStay Dye Fixative, our secret weapon to reduce bleeding and fading.
This dye is for natural fabrics, such as cotton, linen, wool, silk and ramie. It also dyes rayon and nylon. If the garment you want to dye contains more than 35% synthetic material (such as polyester, acrylic or acetate), then you must use Rit DyeMore Synthetic Fiber Dye instead.
Important Notes
Colour
If the garment you are dyeing is white or off white, then you should be able to achieve true colour. If the garment has an existing colour, then please review our instructions on how to get the darkest color possible.
Patterns and Logos
If the garment you are dyeing has a pattern or logo, the colour you use will mix with the existing colour(s) in the fabric and create new colours. To learn more about this, please review our instructions on overdyeing patterns and logos.
Bleach Stains and Sun Damage
Sun and bleach actually damage fabric, making it very difficult to dye. If you still want to try and dye a garment with bleach or sun damage, you could try using Rit Color Remover on the garment before dyeing. Unfortunately we cannot guarantee this will work.
Select your Method
For general dye projects, use the sink or bucket method.
If you are looking to achieve as vibrant a colour as possible (or dyeing nylon), use the stovetop method.
Sink or Bucket
Instructions
- To determine how much dye is needed, weigh the item to be dyed on a food scale or estimate the weight. As a general guideline, one liquid bottle / two powder packages dyes 1 kilogram of dry fabric. If you are trying to achieve a very bold colour, then double the dye quantity.
- Fibre content and weight affect how colour appears. If you are in doubt as to whether your fabric will accept dye or achieve the color you want, we recommend testing a swatch first.
- Before dyeing, remove any visible stains on the garment. This will help achieve uniform colour results when dyeing. Pre-wash item in warm, soapy water without any fabric softener. This helps to remove any finishes that may interfere with dye absorption.
- Cover work area with plastic table cover and have paper towels handy to protect against any possible spills.
- Wear rubber gloves to protect hands from getting stained and to insulate them when working with hot water.
- Fill a plastic container or stainless steel sink with enough water for the fabric to move freely. The water should ideally be 60°C. If tap water is not hot enough, heat water on the stove and add to the dyebath.h.
- To enhance the colour: (1) add 240 mL of salt when dyeing fabrics containing cotton, rayon, ramie or linen; (2) add 240 mL of vinegar when dyeing fabrics containing nylon, silk or wool.
- Add 5 mL of dish detergent to help promote level dyeing.
- Pour well-shaken liquid dye into dyebath and mix well.
- Test colour by dipping a paper towel into the dyebath. If colour is too light, add more dye. If colour is too dark, add more water.
- Wet the fabric, squeeze out any excess water and add it to the dyebath.
- Stir slowly and continuously. The first 10 minutes are the most critical. Stirring helps to ensure an even colour with no splotches.
- Item can remain in dyebath from 10 minutes up to one hour. If dyeing a polyester cotton blend, keep the fabric in the dyebath for at least 30 minutes to ensure that the colour takes fully. Nylon tends to dye very quickly and much darker than other fibres so the actual time needed in the dyebath is less.
- When desired colour is achieved, remove from dyebath. Fabric will look darker when wet and will dry lighter. Squeeze out excess dye.
- To enhance the colour and reduce colour bleeding, use Rit ColorStay Dye Fixative included in the kit immediately after dyeing and before washing, following these instructions.
- Rinse in cool water until rinse water begins to run clear.
- Wash in warm water with a mild detergent, rinse and dry.
Stovetop
Instructions
- To determine how much dye is needed, weigh the item to be dyed on a food scale or estimate the weight. As a general guideline, one liquid bottle / two powder packages dyes 1 kilogram of dry fabric. If you are trying to achieve a very bold colour, then double the dye quantity.
- Fibre content and weight affect how colour appears. If you are in doubt as to whether your fabric will accept dye or achieve the colour you want, we recommend testing a swatch first.
- Before dyeing, remove any visible stains on the garment. This will help achieve uniform colour results when dyeing. Pre-wash item in warm, soapy water without any fabric softener. This helps to remove any finishes that may interfere with dye absorption.
- Cover work area with plastic table cover and have paper towels handy to protect against any possible spills.
- Wear rubber gloves to protect hands from getting stained and to insulate them when working with hot water.
- Fill a stainless steel pot with enough water for the fabric to move freely. We recommend using 3 gallons of water for every pound of fabric.
- To enhance the colour: (1) add 1 cup of salt when dyeing fabrics containing cotton, rayon, ramie or linen; (2) add 240 mL of vinegar when dyeing fabrics containing nylon, silk or wool.
- Add 1 teaspoon of dish detergent to help promote level dyeing.
- Cover pot and heat water on stove top to just below boiling (or around 93ºC / 200ºF).
- If using powder dye, dissolve thoroughly in 2 cups of very hot water.
- When water begins to simmer, pour dissolved powder dye or well-shaken liquid dye into dyebath and mix well.
- Test colour by dipping a paper towel into the dyebath. If colour is too light, add more dye. If colour is too dark, add more water.
- Wet the fabric, squeeze out any excess water and add it to the dyebath.
- Keep temperature at a low simmer for the duration of your dyeing.
- Stir slowly and continuously. The first 10 minutes are the most critical. Stirring helps to ensure an even colour with no splotches.
- Item can remain in dyebath from 10 minutes up to one hour with stirring. If dyeing a polyester cotton blend, keep the fabric in the dyebath for at least 30 minutes to ensure that the colour takes fully. Nylon tends to dye very quickly and much darker than other fibres so the actual time needed in the dyebath is less.
- When desired colour is achieved, remove from dye bath. Fabric will look darker when wet and will dry lighter. Squeeze out excess dye.
- To enhance the colour and reduce colour bleeding, use Rit ColorStay Dye Fixative immediately after dyeing and before washing, following these instructions.
- Rinse in warm water and then gradually cool water until rinse water begins to run clear.
- Wash in warm water with a mild detergent, rinse and dry.