Can you dye linen sheets?

Natural fibers are even better to dye as they absorb dyes much effectively. On the contrary, synthetical fabrics are harder to dye and might take a few tryings.

Sure thing! There are even a few ways to do so. You can either dye the sheets with an entirely solid color, or you can go an extra mile and tie-dye them!

Can you tie-dye sheets?

Yes, you can! Tie-dyeing is even funnier! The process is pretty much the same as standard dyeing. The only difference is that you have to use some rubber bands to wrap and twist your sheets tightly.

How to Dye Sheets | HouseRituals.com

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Time after time our bedding sets lose their initial color and form;
Do not rush to throw your old bedding set away – try to dye it with a different color(s)!
Below in this article, we have got you covered with two untroublesome ways how to dye sheets – standard and tie-dyeing.

If you’ve clicked on this article, you are definitely in the mood of some changes! My guessing is that your picky eye has caught that boring white or grey or whatever color it is bedding set you have for years now? It’s time to bring it back to life by adding some colors! Dyeing sheets is not only a very cheap way to upgrade your bedroom interior – it is actually a super fun process! Anyway, enough talking – read below and we’ll show two easy-peasy ways how to dye your sheets.

Simple Method of Dyeing the Fabric

Using this method, you’ll dye your sheets a solid color.

What you’ll need

Plastic Gloves
Any type of Table Cover (to protect the surfaces from dye drops)
All-Purpose Dye
ColorStay Dye Fixative
Plastic container/bottle (to mix the dye)
Bathtub, plastic bin or anything similar that is spacious enough to soak the sheet
Salt (¼ cup/gallon)
A lot of hot water (3-4 gallons/sheet)
Mild detergent (to wash the sheets in the washing machine afterward)

All set? Let’s get started!

Pre-wash your sheets in the washing machine without any detergents

It is very important in order to remove all the oils, dirtiness and other unnecessary finishes that could make it hard for the fabric to accept the dye;
If you do not want to use the washing machine – simply hand-wash the sheets in the boiling hot water;
If you notice any stains on your sheet – apply some bleach or other stain remover before washing it;
DO NOT DRY the sheets afterward – wet fabric will absorb the dye more evenly;

Prepare the bathtub with dye (or any other container you use)

Before doing so – cover any visible surfaces with a table cover to avoid any dye damage;
Fill in the bathtub or container halfway with as hot water as possible (120–140 °F (49–60 °C);
Put on your rubber gloves;
Mix a pack of All-Purpose Dye according to the instructions in a separate plastic cup;
Pour the mixture into the bathtub with hot water and add the cup of salt accordingly – stir everything gently;

TIP: Not a fan of chemical dye? No worries! Try to use natural plant-based dyes, such as coffee (for brown-ish color) or beets (for red-ish color). Just keep in mind – natural dyes are not that intense, therefore you might need to use more of them, or your sheets will result in a lighter color.

Start the dyeing process

Immerse the pre-washed wet sheet in the dye bath;
Stir the sheet gently around the water to help it dye evenly (wooden or stainless spoon would be very helpful here);
Depending on how strong the result you expect, let it sink in dye from 15 to 30 minutes;

TIP: Let the sheets get a little darker than you prefer – it will lighten up a little bit after rinsing and drying.

After the dyeing process

Take the sheet out of the bathtub and rinse it under the warm water – continue the process until the water runs clear;
If you want, simply drop the sheets into the washing machine and run it under the rinse&spin cycle;
If you want, you can hand-wash the sheets using hot water and mild detergent;
Afterward – air-dry the sheets as usual, or put them in the dryer and you are done!

TIP: If you want to fixate the color of your sheets and protect them from fading away too quickly – you should consider stepping an extra mile before the After dyeing process:

After you rinse the sheets and remove the excess of the water – put it aside;
Fill another plastic storage/container/bathtub with the same amount of hot water (similarly as previously);
Dissolve about 8-10 spoons of Color Stay Dye Fixative powder into the water;
Immerse the dyed sheets into that water and stir gently for about 20-30 minutes;
Now, you can move to the After Dyeing Process;

Tie-Dyeing the Sheets

Just in case you haven’t heard about this name – Tie-Dyeing is a method of dyeing sheets when you tie portions of the fabric with the rubber bands so that they would not absorb the dye. The result – colorful and playful sheets, shirts or any other textiles!

You’ll need all of the same supplies as when dyeing the sheets in a standard way, and in addition – rubber bands.

Let’s begin!

Pre-wash the sheets

Again – you can either hand-wash it or use a washing machine;
Do not use any detergent or use only some of the mild detergent;

Set up your workplace

Tie-dyeing process can become messy, therefore make sure you cover all the surfaces carefully;
Put your plastic gloves on;

Prepare the dyebath

Fill the bathtub halfway with super hot water (just like in the 1st method);
If you use different colors of dye – mix them in separate containers before pouring into the bathtub with how water;
Pour the mixtures of dyes into the water and stir everything gently;

Prepare your sheets for the tie-dyeing process

For a standard tie-dye pattern, unfold the sheets entirely, grab the very center of it and start twisting the fabric in a circular motion into one big spiral;
Take the rubber bands and wrap the spiral every 3-4 in (9-12 cm) tightly;

Start the dyeing process

Submerge your tightly wrapped sheets into the dye bath and let it sink there entirely for 20-30 minutes by stirring every few minutes;

After the dyeing process

Take the dyed sheets out of the water and squeeze them strongly. Keep the rubber bands on!
Now, again – it’s completely up to you if you want to go an extra mile and fixate the color. If yes – follow the instructions about how to use Color Stay Dye Fixative explained previously in this article;
Afterward, rinse the sheets under the plain water until it becomes clear;
Cut off the rubber bands thoroughly and untwist the sheets;
Drop the colored sheets into the washing machine and wash it only with cold water OR hand-wash them with the soapy warm water;
Dry the sheets up!

TIP: Just so you know, natural fabrics such as cotton, linen, wool, and silk absorb dye much better than synthetic fabrics, such as viscose or polyester do.

Now that you know even two untroublesome ways to dye your old and dull sheets – you have no excuse not to try that right away! The best thing is that you can use these methods not only with the sheets but also with any other textiles, such as shirts, trousers or whatever. Go on, give it a try!

How to Dye Sheets