Message: I have been given some dylon multi dyes. Which I've since found out are not permanent on cotton, :-(  Can I fix dylon multi tins with retayne? if so do I add it to the dye, or wring it out then soak in retayne?

Dylon Multi Purpose dye, unlike other Dylon dyes, is an all-purpose dye, like Rit All-Purpose Tint and Dye, and Tintex  Easy Fabric Dye. (See "All Purpose Dyes".) Other Dylon dyes, such as Dylon Cold Dye, Dylon Permanent Dye, Dylon Machine Dye, and Dylon Hand Dye, all contain various sorts of fiber reactive dyes, and therefore are far more washfast and permanent on cotton.

An all-purpose dye is a mixture of leveling acid dye, which is the least washfast of the popular acid dyes for wool, plus direct dye, which is a rather poorly washfast dye class for cotton and other cellulose fibers, and which also dyes silk.

Retayne, or another similar cationic dye fixative, is the perfect answer for your problem, at least for dyeing things one single color each. First, you use your dye and then wash your dyed material as instructed on the package, to remove excess dye. Then, to apply the Retayne, you fill the washing machine or a large bucket with HOT water (140°F, or 60°C). Use a thermometer to check the temperature of your washing machine water; ProChem says to boil water on top of the stove and add it to your washing machine, if necessary, to reach the recommended temperature, as Retayne will not work if applied in merely warm water. Add the recommended amount of Retayne (one teaspoon for each yard of fabric, or about one tablespoon per pound) or other cationic dye fixative and stir, then soak your garment, or yarn, or whatever it is that you've just dyed, in the Retayne bath, for twenty minutes to half an hour, stirring to allow even access of the Retayne to all parts of the material. Finally, wash the garment in cold water to rinse out any excess Retayne.

Items whose dye has been set with Retayne are quite reasonably washfast. They will last without fading many times longer than the same dyes without a cationic dye fixative. Unlike salt and vinegar, Retayne actually works to bind the loose dye particles to the fiber. However, hot water can cause Retayne to let loose its hold on the fiber; use hot water only when applying the Retayne. Afterwards, it is best to launder the dyed items in lukewarm water, to extend the lifetime of the Retayne.

There are other brands of the same product as Retayne, which can be used as a substitute, such as Rit Dye Fixative (if you can find it!), Dharma Dye Fixative, Aljo Pro-fix PCD, Raycafix, Dyefix, Deka L fixative or Fixitol P. Choose whichever of these cationic fixatives is easiest for you to find from your dye supplier or local quilt shop. 

For more information, see "Commercial Dye Fixatives".

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