Name: Catherine
Message: I did try to search on this before sending you a question but I did not find an answer. I have a favorite dress that is a Acetate Rayon blend. I want to dye - can you tell me what type of dye will work on this synthetic fabric blend. Thanks!

There are two completely different types of rayon, one called acetate rayon and the other viscose rayon. In the US, acetate rayon is called acetate, and viscose rayon is simply called rayon. What you have may be a blend of these two different fibers.

Viscose rayon is a cellulose fiber that acts like other cellulose fibers such as cotton and linen, and is easily dyed with fiber reactive dye, such as Procion MX type dye. This dye is longer lasting (more washfast), more brightly colored, and easier to use than all-purpose type dyes. See my Sources for Supplies page for places from which to mail-order this dye.

Acetate is a synthetic fiber which can be dyed like polyester; see Dyeing Polyester with Disperse Dyes. This is not nearly as pleasant or easy as dyeing the other sort of rayon, and I don't actually recommend it. You could save a lot of trouble by just dyeing the blend as if it were pure (viscose) rayon; this will result in paler colors than you would see in 100% (viscose) rayon, just like tie-dyeing a t-shirt that is 50% cotton and 50% polyester.

Note that rayon is a weak fiber when it is wet, so it should be hand-washed, or washed on a super-delicate setting, if your washing machine has one. You cannot dye anything that is truly dry clean only.