Name: Debbie
Message: Hi, I need to dye 100% olefin that has a scotchgard on it. I work at an antique automobile restoration shop, and our upholstery department would like to know if they can remove the scotchgard off of the fabric with steam, and then attempt to dye the fabric. It is a natural color that we need to darken just a little to make more of a camel color. Thank you. If you could help at all I would appreciate it. What kind of dye do we need to use after removing the scotchgard?

I'm sorry, but olefin is not a dyeable fiber. Olefin is a name for polypropylene, which must be dyed before the liquid plastic is extruded into textile form. This is called "solution" dyeing, because the plastic is dyed while it is still dissolved in liquid. This method allows for much greater colorfastness, but it means that you cannot dye polypropylene yourself.

I am not sure that Scotchgard can be removed, even by steaming. However, in your case it does not matter, because even untreated olefin fabric cannot be dyed.

Polypropylene is an unusual fiber in that it is very hydrophobic, that is, it does not absorb water at all. I suspect that even fabric paint will not stick to this fiber properly.

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