Name: Aimee

Message: Hi, 
Can I soak the tie dye shirts done with fiber-reactive dye in the soda ash after the dyeing process? I didn't put it in before dying. 

Yes, you can apply the soda ash after applying the dye. It may make the colors run a bit, but this is far preferable to having them unfixed. 

If you've already untied your fabric, put the soda ash solution into a spray bottle and mist the fabric lightly, then wrap in plastic and keep it moist overnight for the dyes to react. If your fabric is still dyed, just pour some soda ash solution over it.

It's good that you used fiber reactive dyes. Soda ash works extremely well for fixing fiber reactive dyes, such as Procion MX dyes. Soda ash should not be used with all-purpose dyes; it will not fix Rit or Tintex dyes. (To fix all-purpose dye, use a mail-order cationic dye fixative such as Retayne or Jacquard iDye Fixative.)

Some tie-dye kits include soda ash as a separate presoak. Others contain it already mixed with the dyes, so the soda ash starts reacting with the dye as soon as you mix them with water.

Also see the FAQ page, "What is soda ash, and what's it for in dyeing?".

(Please help support this web site. Thank you.)