Name: GAYLE
Message: HELLO, I HAVE A HUGE SHAG RUG THATS COTTON, I NEED TO DYE IT.BUT THERE IS NO WAY I CAN RINSE IT, IS THAT GOING TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE DYE COMMING OFF AFTER IT DRIES? THANK YOU GAYLE

Yes, there will be a huge problem! Dye must be rinsed thoroughly after the dyeing process has been completed; otherwise, excess dye will rub off onto anything that touches the unrinsed dyed item.

Never attempt to dye anything that you cannot rinse.

You might be able to rinse a cotton rug after dyeing it if you take it outside and use a hose. How would you apply the dye, though? If you use all-purpose dye (which is not very washfast, and would be very expensive for a large project), you must submerge the cotton in very hot water, preferably 190 degrees Fahrenheit (88 degrees C.) or above, for half an hour or longer. In contrast, fiber reactive dye can be applied at room temperature, as long as it is allowed to react at or above 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees C.) for a sufficient amount of time. However, whenever you apply dye, there is some run-off. You must thoroughly saturate the cotton with the fiber reactive dye and the soda ash that is required for the cotton to bind the dye. If it is impossible to apply water without a problem, it is certainly impossible to apply dye.