Is there a such thing as white dye?


Name: Cookie
Message: Have been looking for a white dye to change almond colored curtain. I can only find britener and color/white remover. Is there a such thing as white dye?

There is no such thing as white dye, because dye is transparent, and can only add to the color of the object you are dyeing, never make it lighter.

In order to turn an almond-colored curtain to white, you must remove the color that is already in the curtain. Do not bother trying to do this if your curtain contains polyester! The color of 100% cotton can be lightened with chlorine bleach or with sodium hydrosulfite. You must never use chlorine bleach on any synthetic or on animal fibers such as wool or silk, but it may be possible to use sodium hydrosulfite, with great care, on silk or nylon. Stop chlorine damage to the fiber from continuing indefinitely by following bleaching immediately by rinsing and treating with Anti Chlor or chlorine-free oxygen 'bleach'.
box of Rit Color Remover
One of the most readily available brands of sodium hydrosulfite is Rit Color Remover. Use it in the washing machine, but be sure to buy enough boxes for the size of your washing machine, possibly two or three boxes for one load. Another product containing sodium hydrosulfite is Carbona Color Run Remover.

Rit Whitener & Brightener is another product, which you might want to try after removing as much color as possible from your curtains. It contains an optical brightener which makes whites appear whiter and brighter, just as the name implies. It will not be sufficient by itself to lighten an almond colored curtain, however.

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Posted: Sunday - September 11, 2005 at 11:07 AM          

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