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You are here: Home > All About Hand Dyeing > FAQ > FAQS on Dye Auxiliaries > Hot Press Test

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Buy Synthrapol at Amazon

Synthrapol is not required for washing out dyes, but it is a very good choice.


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Synthrapol Sizing & Dye Remover - 4 Ounce

Synthrapol Sizing & Dye Remover

Synthrapol helps removes excess dye from hand dyed fabrics. Will allow even color when used in the dye bath.

How can you tell whether the dye will run?

Dye that runs can ruin a quilt or other clothing. You have to know, before you use or sell a fabric that you've dyed, whether you've completely washed out all of the dye that could run.

Fiber reactive dyes such as Procion MX dyes are among the most washfast of all dyes, but any form of dyeing will result in excess unattached dye particles, in addition to those that have properly bound to the textile fiber. This excess dye must be washed out.

How to do the hot press test for dye fastness

  1. Find two clean white cloths or rags, preferably one made of cotton and one made of wool or silk.
  2. Protect your ironing board with layers of newsprint or a pressing cloth.
  3. Set your iron to the hottest temperature your fabric can tolerate, either "cotton" or "linen".
  4. Lightly dampen the piece of dyed fabric that you want to test (ideally using distilled or softened water).
  5. Place the moist dyed fabric between your two white cloths.
  6. Using a hot iron, press the fabric until the dyed cloth in the middle is dry.
Check your white cloths to see whether dye color has transfered to them.

What to do if your fabric fails the test

If dye transfer occurred, wash the fabric again in very hot water (140°F or hotter), then repeat the test. See "How to wash out after dyeing with Procion dyes".

Don't wash in hot water if you didn't use fiber reactive dyes! If you dyed with acid dyes or direct dyes, most of the dye may come out, not just the excess.

If dye continues to run and you can't or don't want to wash in very hot water, an alternative is fixing the remaining dye with a cationic dye fixative. See "Commercial Dye Fixatives". Cationic dye fixatives often increase susceptibility to light fading, but they improve washfastness considerably for inadequately fixed dye.


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Last updated: August 2, 2012
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