How To Dye Fabric With Coffee
Just as coffee can be used to dye gray hair and bring your wooden furniture back to life, it can be very useful for fabric. Whether you want to give it a new color or restore the tone of a garment that has lost it over time, coffee is a marvel.
Yes, coffee is a wonder – and we’re not just talking about the delicious beverage! It has a lot of little-known uses. From promoting hair growth, to serving as a plant fertilizer, to mosquito repellent. The best part is that it’s a natural ingredient that won’t harm you or the environment. The way we see it: a win-win. Let’s look at the different ways to dye fabric with coffee.
Dyeing fabric with coffee in a pot
This is one of the easiest and most effective ways to dye fabric with coffee. Of course, you must keep in mind that the size of the pot depends on the fabric. Having clarified this, we will explain what you need and how to do it, in order to achieve your goal.
What do you need?
Fabric or garment to dye
Coffee pot
Pot
Container
Vinegar
Skimmer
What to do?
Wash and dry the fabric as you usually do. It should be clean so that it dyes evenly.
Prepare the coffee, preferably in a drip coffee maker or French press. Keep in mind that you will need much more than a cup, and that the amount depends on how dark you want the fabric to be. The same with the intensity of the coffee, it affects the tonality.
Place the pot on the stove, fill it with water and put it on high heat.
Then, pour the coffee and once it boils, turn off the heat.
Introduce the cloth in the pot, with the help of the skimmer and immerse it.
Let it soak and keep in mind that the longer you do it, the more intense the dye will be. The minimum recommended is one hour.
After this time, rinse the fabric with cold water until it becomes clear. This way, you make sure to remove any dye residue.
Then, let the fabric soak in vinegar and finally, wash and dry the fabric (always in the shade).
It is very important to keep in mind that, being a natural method, it is not permanent and can fade with the following washings. Also, you can not use the pot, but a container that is large enough and, without filling it with water, introduce the fabric, pour the coffee, let it stand and then soak in vinegar.
Dyeing fabric with coffee grounds
This is another way to dye fabric with coffee. One of its advantages is that you will do it with the residue, instead of the beverage. However, consider that it might not be so convenient if the fabric is very large. Below you will find out why.
What do you need?
Coffee grounds
Wooden paddle
Natural fiber brush
Iron
What to do?
Wash and dry the fabric as you usually do. This way you remove any dirt that may interfere with the dyeing.
Add the coffee grounds to a container, pour in water and mix. Consider that you will need one tablespoon of water for each cup of coffee grounds.
Spread the fabric and start spreading the cream. Be sure to cover the entire surface.
Let the fabric dry, you can place it outdoors, as long as the sun does not hit it directly, because it affects the coloring.
With the natural fiber brush, get rid of the coffee grounds. Do this until you get the desired color.
Finally, iron the fabric!
Dyeing fabric with coffee using the knot technique
Fan of tie-dye, can coffee help you get this cute effect? Here are the materials and steps to follow.
What do you need?
Coffee mug
Plastic bottle with a hole in the cap
Rubber bands
Container
What should you do?
Wash and dry the fabric as usual.
Next, prepare the coffee, let it cool and then pour it into the bottle.
Twist the cloth and divide it with the elastic bands.
Then, insert the fabric into the container and spread the coffee over the fabric with the help of the bottle. How much? It depends on how dark you want it to be.
Once finished, place the fabric in an airtight container or bag.
After 24 hours, rinse the fabric with cold water until it is clear.
What to take into account when dyeing fabric with coffee?
To obtain the desired results, you should take into account the following:
Type of fabric: preferably natural fibers, since synthetics do not dye correctly.
Color of the fabric: in light-colored fabrics, these methods achieve a tone ranging from light to medium brown.
Also, consider the duration of the dye. As already mentioned, as it is a natural method, it is not permanent, and can fade with washing. Also, it is recommended to test it on a small piece of fabric first.