It’s happened! Tie dye is back – and it’s all the rage! It’s also sold out at most stores because it’s a fun at home activity, and we’re all stuck at home right now. Did I give up on my tie dye dreams? No way! I decided to try reverse tie dye! If you’re new to reverse tie dye (I was), it’s where you use bleach to take color out of your garments, instead of adding colors to them. It’s really fun, easy, and most people have what they need on hand. Keep scrolling for quick instructions and what you need.
Materials
Before you get started, you’ll need to gather the following materials:
- Shirts or other clothing that are medium to dark in color so that the bleach has enough pigment to pull out. I used old shirts that we weren’t using anymore and gave them a makeover with this technique.
- An empty spray bottle. I used an empty spray bottle that used to have house cleaner in it. Because it was empty, I rinsed it out until it was good and clean, and I was all set! No need to purchase a new one!
- Bleach – enough to fill about 2 inches of the spray bottle.
- Rubber bands (optional).
- A tarp to protect surfaces.
- Rubber gloves to protect your hands.
Steps
1. Lay your clothing onto a clean flat surface. Decide where you want to pinch (so you can create a center for your swirl) and twist. You want it to be a nice swirl that is flat on the top and bottom. Use 1-2 rubber bands to secure your swirl. We used shirts so the rubber bands helped keep the sleeves in place.
2. Put your tarp outside, preferably on the ground. We used rocks and other things to secure the ends so it didn’t blow away. You definitely want to do this outdoors, so it is well ventilated. Lay out your clothes that have been twisted and secured.
3. Put on your rubber gloves to protect your skin. Take your spray bottle and add 1-2 inches of bleach to it. Close it and make sure it is on “spray” and not “stream” or “off”. You’ll spray your clothes as much or as little as you like. I sprayed the tops pretty well, flipped them over, and sprayed the bottoms as well. Why not? 🙂 Let them sit outside for 30 – 60 min, preferably in the sun. We ended up eating dinner (yes we eat so early that the sun is still shining) – and let them sit for well over an hour. We wanted them to bleach a good amount of color out, and they turned out awesome!
4. Put your rubber gloves on again, take the rubber bands off of the clothes, bring them inside and get ready to toss them into the laundry. Wash them in cold water, regular cycle (don’t mix with any of your other clothes). When they are done, hang them up to dry. That’s it! So easy! When they are dry, enjoy wearing your new reverse tie dyed clothes!
We tried a variety of shirts/tanks and I love them all. My workout tank didn’t bleach as much as I thought it would (see above), but I love how subtle it is. The black shirts bleached really well, as did the dark grey one Sofia is wearing in the image above. My lighter grey shirt is more subtle as well, and it’s really pretty! I’m planning to throw it on with light jeans and flip flops for a casual look.
I hope you give this a try, have fun, and please comment with how it goes! I would love to know! Hoping everyone is staying safe, healthy, and enjoying these warmer temps! xo