Can you dye a baby's clothes?

If so do you know what kind of dye that you don't have to buy over the internet?

The best dye to use for baby clothes is fiber reactive dye, such as Procion MX dye. It bonds permanently to the fiber; once you've washed out the unattached excess dye, no more dye can become detached to possibly irritate the baby's skin.

You can buy this dye in the form of any good tie-dye kit. You can't buy good dye at the grocery store, but any good crafts store will have it. You can also find good dye in fabric stores such as Joann's. Look for a tie-dye kit made by Jacquard, Dylon, Rainbow Rock, or Tulip. Avoid the Rit tie-dye kit because it contains inferior dyes that do not attach to the fabric very firmly, so it may bleed for the life of the garment. Or, you can buy individual dye colors. Look for Tulip One Step Fashion Dye, or Jacquard Procion MX dye, or Dylon Machine Dye, Dylon Cold Water Dye, or Dylon Permanent Dye. Be sure to follow the instructions included with the dye.

Good dye costs less, per garment, when purchased online. One little packet of dye costs $3 and will dye only half a pound of fabric, but one $5 two-ounce jar of Procion dye will color 12 pounds of baby clothes. You do not have to have a credit card to order from Dharma Trading Company, which has a hundred different colors of the best Procion dyes, and dozens of wonderful dyeable baby outfits.

Be sure to buy only 100% cotton clothing to dye. Polyester will not accept the dye. Also avoid anything labeled stain-resistant, because it will not dye well. Allow your dyed items to react with the dye overnight in a warm place, or closely follow whatever the instructions say. Afterwards, wash once in cool water, without detergent, and then at least twice in the hottest water available, with detergent, preferably at least 140°F, to remove all of the excess unattached dye and make it ready for a baby to wear.

See also:
is it safe to dye baby clothes?
dyeing baby clothes

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[Portions of this answer were first posted, by me, on Yahoo answers, on September 20, 2008.]