Name: Josselyn  
Message: I am trying to dye a cotton/spandex knit, I want to use a non or low caustic dye, could you reccomend something please? Thanks

The best way to dye cotton/spandex is with a cool water fiber reactive dye, such as Procion MX. 

Hot water dyes, such as all-purpose dye, require temperatures that will damage the spandex when used at the appropriate temperatures; they are also much less washfast, that is, they will gradually wash out in the laundry, running onto other clothing.

Procion MX dyes must be used with washing soda or soda ash. This is not a particularly hazardous substance; in fact, it is a major ingredient in most laundry detergents. It is caustic enough that you should not soak your hands in it, but instead wear gloves and wash or wipe it off if it gets onto your skin, because prolonged exposure is irritating to the skin. Brief exposures followed by washing with water are not a problem.

You can buy Procion MX dyes by mail-order; see my list of companies around the world that sell dyes and supplies. Similar dyes include Dylon Cool Water Dye and Dylon Permanent Dye; both also require a high pH to react, but the latter include trisodium phosphate for this purpose, instead of soda ash, in the dye powder mixture. Dylon dyes may be purchased from some sewing stores. Avoid Dylon Multi Purpose dye, which is a hot water dye with all the disadvantages of other all-purpose dyes.


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