We recycled old batik fabric in some of our products. These pieces of fabric are beautifully created with beeswax pattern and natural indigo dye. The natural dye create the beauty of the fabric and has been reserved through many years. However, how to handle the strong blue color "bleeding" from the fabric and still keep it pretty. This article is to provide you some good tips to take care of these well-made textile.
Indigo dye is known to "bleed" or release excess dye, especially if it hasn't been properly fixed or aged over time. This blue bleeding is common with older, naturally-dyed fabrics. Here's why this is happening and how you can wash it clean:
Why It Happens:
- Natural Indigo Dye: Indigo is a natural dye that doesn’t chemically bond with the fabric in the same way that synthetic dyes do. The dye attaches more loosely, which is why it often bleeds, especially if the fabric hasn't been washed or fixed properly.
- Bleach or Over-dyeing: If the fabric was over-dyed or treated with bleach in the past, this might disrupt the binding of the indigo to the fabric, causing even more bleeding.
- Aging Process: Old textiles may not have been washed properly when originally dyed, allowing loose dye particles to remain on the surface and bleed even after many years.
How to Wash It Clean:
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Rinse with Salt or Vinegar:
- Salt: Add a generous amount of salt (about 1/2 cup per gallon of water) to cold water and soak the fabric. Salt helps to fix the dye into the fibers.
- Vinegar: Alternatively, soak the fabric in a mixture of water and white vinegar (about 1 cup of vinegar per gallon of water). This helps to neutralize the dye and can fix the color more permanently.
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Fixative Solution: You can use a commercial dye fixative (available in fabric stores) designed to lock in dye, particularly for indigo or other natural dyes. Follow the instructions on the product.
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Cold Water Wash: Always wash the textile in cold water to reduce the release of dye. Hot water can cause the dye to bleed more.
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Air Dry: After washing, hang the fabric to air dry. Avoid direct sunlight, as it can fade natural dyes further.
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Repeat Washes: Indigo-dyed fabrics often require several rinses or washes before they stop bleeding entirely. Keep rinsing until the water runs clear.
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Gentle Detergent: If you prefer using a detergent, make sure it’s a mild one designed for delicate or natural fibers.
By following these steps, you should see less blue dye bleeding from your batik fabric and keep it in better color retention over time
