Is vinegar or salt effective at setting dyes on fabric?
(Cross posted from my main blog at http://www.kimiko1.com/blog/?p=317.)
Yes, I'm still around. I haven't posted as I've been taking a break since my mad sewing marathon for my laureling outfit, and I've only recently been able to actually transfer my photos from the digital camera, to my husband's computer, to finally my sick computer, which took many hours to transfer. Sadly, sick computer means it takes more work to not only get my photos, but to also work on them for upload and sharing, and in one of my programs I'm working in the dark, as I can only see tiny little icons, not full photos. Hopefully sick computer will be replaced sometime soon. I will be working on the photos and upload them as soon as I can.
So, today I went and hunted down an academic summary article I had read some time ago on the use of vinegar to set dyes. As it took a long time to find the article again, hidden under so many other articles that state the opposite, I figured I'd at least share that academic gem so that I can find it again, hopefully. I had posted it to an SCA group on Facebook.
We were discussing how the old wives tales of using vinegar, or salt, to "set" dyes in fabrics was or was not actually worth doing. Does it help to set dyes on fabric? I'm sure you've heard of it, just add a bit of salt or a bit of vinegar, or both! to your wash load, and it will "set" the dye in your garment fabrics so they won't fade.
Well, while vinegar or salt (depending on fiber type and dye) is used in the modern process of dyeing fabrics, it will really not do much about the extra dyes that hang around after the dyeing process is done, despite the many, many claims made otherwise on the Internet. And yes, I'd done this myself in the past thinking it was helpful. Then I found this article.
NF91-44 Ineffectiveness of Home Remedy Dye Setting Treatments
"Since no information was found about the effectiveness of home treatments for dye setting, research was conducted at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Dr. Patricia Crews investigated various home remedy treatments for setting dyes. Red dyes applied to cotton cloth were used because of their perceived problems with bleeding during laundering. Blue dyes were also included for comparison purposes."
"The results of the consumer dye setting treatments in reducing color loss and staining in cotton fabrics were ineffective. None of the treatments substantially reduced color loss. Some treatments actually increased the amount of color loss in the fabric after laundering. "
The article I found is just a summary, with suggestions on how to clean garments. The main article is cited as:
Crews, Patricia Cox. Effectiveness of Dye Setting Treatments on Cotton Fabrics Dyed with Direct, Reactive, and Vat Dyes. Clothing and Textiles Research Journal, 7(4) Summer 1989, 1-7.
It appears the full article is available online but you have to join a web site for researchers to request it. I have not joined to request, so I'm not positive the full article is there. But if you are really into the full research behind the summary, please check it out here.
And I do use vinegar for fabrics, in the rinse cycle, more as a fabric softener for some of my laundry - and it seems to neutralize the smell of bleach in my whites. It will also work to restore pH levels when washing silk (if the cleaner is not already pH neutral). I only use a glug or two (1/4 cup or so) in the rinse cycle.
As to dealing with fabrics that bleed or crock, I simply wash with Synthrapol (which helps remove excess dyes) or Retayne (better for cotton and linen), as part of my fabric dyeing process, or when I have pre-dyed yardage that is washed and dried before being made into garments. Indigo dyes on cellulose fabrics (like jeans) will often crock, and all you can do is to wash and rinse them separately from other garments.
Yes, I'm still around. I haven't posted as I've been taking a break since my mad sewing marathon for my laureling outfit, and I've only recently been able to actually transfer my photos from the digital camera, to my husband's computer, to finally my sick computer, which took many hours to transfer. Sadly, sick computer means it takes more work to not only get my photos, but to also work on them for upload and sharing, and in one of my programs I'm working in the dark, as I can only see tiny little icons, not full photos. Hopefully sick computer will be replaced sometime soon. I will be working on the photos and upload them as soon as I can.
So, today I went and hunted down an academic summary article I had read some time ago on the use of vinegar to set dyes. As it took a long time to find the article again, hidden under so many other articles that state the opposite, I figured I'd at least share that academic gem so that I can find it again, hopefully. I had posted it to an SCA group on Facebook.
We were discussing how the old wives tales of using vinegar, or salt, to "set" dyes in fabrics was or was not actually worth doing. Does it help to set dyes on fabric? I'm sure you've heard of it, just add a bit of salt or a bit of vinegar, or both! to your wash load, and it will "set" the dye in your garment fabrics so they won't fade.
Well, while vinegar or salt (depending on fiber type and dye) is used in the modern process of dyeing fabrics, it will really not do much about the extra dyes that hang around after the dyeing process is done, despite the many, many claims made otherwise on the Internet. And yes, I'd done this myself in the past thinking it was helpful. Then I found this article.
NF91-44 Ineffectiveness of Home Remedy Dye Setting Treatments
"Since no information was found about the effectiveness of home treatments for dye setting, research was conducted at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Dr. Patricia Crews investigated various home remedy treatments for setting dyes. Red dyes applied to cotton cloth were used because of their perceived problems with bleeding during laundering. Blue dyes were also included for comparison purposes."
"The results of the consumer dye setting treatments in reducing color loss and staining in cotton fabrics were ineffective. None of the treatments substantially reduced color loss. Some treatments actually increased the amount of color loss in the fabric after laundering. "
The article I found is just a summary, with suggestions on how to clean garments. The main article is cited as:
Crews, Patricia Cox. Effectiveness of Dye Setting Treatments on Cotton Fabrics Dyed with Direct, Reactive, and Vat Dyes. Clothing and Textiles Research Journal, 7(4) Summer 1989, 1-7.
It appears the full article is available online but you have to join a web site for researchers to request it. I have not joined to request, so I'm not positive the full article is there. But if you are really into the full research behind the summary, please check it out here.
And I do use vinegar for fabrics, in the rinse cycle, more as a fabric softener for some of my laundry - and it seems to neutralize the smell of bleach in my whites. It will also work to restore pH levels when washing silk (if the cleaner is not already pH neutral). I only use a glug or two (1/4 cup or so) in the rinse cycle.
As to dealing with fabrics that bleed or crock, I simply wash with Synthrapol (which helps remove excess dyes) or Retayne (better for cotton and linen), as part of my fabric dyeing process, or when I have pre-dyed yardage that is washed and dried before being made into garments. Indigo dyes on cellulose fabrics (like jeans) will often crock, and all you can do is to wash and rinse them separately from other garments.