Name: Dok
Message: I am in the process of buying some good quality white towels and I'm going to dye them red. What is the best technique to keep the color solid and from running when washed?

First, be sure to buy only dyeable towels. Do not buy any towels that contain polyester, acrylic, or nylon. 100% cotton is best; most 100% rayon or bamboo or modal will be equally dyeable, but a few will have been chemically altered to make them less dyeable. Perhaps you should buy one small towel as a sample, and buy more only if it dyes satisfactorily. I believe that all 100% cotton towels will dye well.

The next most important step is to buy the correct dyes. Do not buy all-purpose dyes, such as Rit or Tintex dye. They will fade quickly, because they bleed badly in the laundry. Instead, buy fiber reactive dyes, such as Procion MX dye or Dylon Machine Dye. These dyes, when applied properly, will form a permanent chemical bond to the fiber, so they never wash out (though in some cases their color can be removed by bleach).

Once you have your towels, pre-scour them by washing in HOT water with detergent and some soda ash for extra cleaning power. (The soda ash in this step does not act as a dye fixative, only as a cleaner.) It is important to remove any oils or finishes applied during manufacture. Do not use any sort of fabric softener.

The easiest way to dye a quantity of towels the same solid color is in a top-loading washing machine. You will also need soda ash, and several boxes of ordinary table salt. For more information, see "How can I dye clothing or fabric in the washing machine?".

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