Name: Richard
Message: I want to dye one pair of cargo pants of all cotton material. Can I soak them in a large bucket in dye? What is the simple way to do this?? I would like olive green.

Are they a light color to begin with? If they are white, this should be easy to do, assuming that the pants have not been treated with a stain-resistant or permanent-press finish.

Do not use all-purpose dye for this project. It has many drawbacks, including running badly in the laundry, fading quickly, and requiring boiling hot water for the most effective application. Instead, acquire some fiber reactive dye. Look for Dylon Permanent dye in your local fabric store, or mail order some Procion MX dye from any of the suppliers listed on my Sources for Dyeing Supplies Around the World page at http://www.pburch.net/dyeing/dyesources.shtml.

The easiest way to dye a garment a solid color is in the washing machine. To use Procion MX dye in the washing machine, you will need to buy the dye, a large quantity of salt, and some soda ash. See the instructions on the How to Dye in the Washing Machine page at http://www.pburch.net/dyeing/FAQ/washingmachine.shtml.

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