Name: Ann 
Message: We soaked the shirts in the ash mixture before we rubber banded them.  Do we need to wash them out,  dry them and then rubberband them first before we soak them in the mixture now? We might have made a mistake we're not sure?

It is fine to soak in soda ash before rubber banding the shirts for tie-dyeing. It makes no difference to the dyeing; the only issue is protecting your hands.

It is difficult to apply rubber bands to clothing that is wet while wearing gloves, and it is important to protect your hands from the strong drying action of the soda ash mixture by wearing gloves. As a result, many people like to tie their garments either when they are still dry, or while they are moistened only with water, before they have been soaked in soda ash. It keeps the soda ash off the hands. One friend who tie-dyed without gloves found that she and her sons both developed hundreds of tiny splits in the skin of their hands, because of the soda ash: they should have worn gloves.

If you must expose your bare hands to the soda ash solution, as by tying wet soda-soaked garments without wearing gloves, before sure to work as quickly as is practical, and rinse your hands well, immediately afterwards. A skin moisturizer may also be helpful, later on, if your skin gets irritated. People with oily skin generally have less trouble with soda ash exposure than people who have dry skin already.

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