That might be a good idea, if they are washable at all, and if you don't trust their washfastness. Don't do it if even one immersion will cause the colors to run and ruin the designs.

Retayne and other cationic dye fixatives will work on most dyes, though not indigo (the blue dye used for denim jeans, among other things). They should be used only on items that can be immersed without ruining them by causing the colors to bleed, since they are applied by mixing them with a large amount of hot water and then soaking the fabric.

The major drawback of cationic dye fixatives is some reduction in lightfastness, so you will want to avoid making a habit of line-drying the molas in direct sunlight.

When you apply Retayne or other cationic dye fixatives, be sure to have good ventilation. All of the cationic dye fixatives I have been able to find for sale in the US, in quantities small enough for individuals to use, contain small amounts of formaldehyde, though some contain so little that they do not have to mention it in their MSDS information. Even small amounts of formaldehyde can be irritating to some people, and can trigger breathing problems for those who have asthma. Of course there are many other, often greater, sources of formaldehyde in the home (particularly pressed wood furniture), but I think it's important to try to minimize exposure. If you are sensitive to formaldehyde, consider wearing a NIOSH-approved respirator with organic vapor cartridges while working closely with cationic dye fixatives.

Eventually, after many, many washings, a cationic dye fixative may stop working. It's best to continue to wash the treated fabric separately from other colors, and consider reapplying the dye fixative after a couple of years.

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