How to make dye color last longer in martial arts uniforms

Name: James

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Country or region: USA

Message: I am a martial artist (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) and a common problem that BJJ practitioners run into is that the dye/color in our kimonos (uniform) tend to fade (some faster than others). There are all sorts of wives tales about how to set the color so it will stay longer, but I haven't found any of those methods to be super effective. The problem is that I train at least 4-5 times a week and wash/dry my kimonos frequently (twice a week if not more). I have several kimonos so I rotate which ones I use on a regular basis, but they all end up fading.

The kimonos are 100% cotton and most are pre-shrunk (not sure if that matters). I want to find a way to set the color and make it last longer than it already does.

I really appreciate the help and look forward to hearing back from you.

The very most effective way to get non-fading uniforms would be to buy dyeable 100% cotton white kimonos, and dye them yourself using a fiber reactive dye such as Procion MX dye. (See my page, "About Fiber Reactive Dyes".) The molecules of this type of dye form a strong, permanent covalent bond to the cotton fiber, so they cannot be stripped off by hot water. Their color will, in fact, survive even boiling water without a problem. I've seen Procion-dyed garments stay bright through more than a hundred launderings; they will last the longest in water supplies that do not contain chloramine, commonly used as a disinfectant, which is something that is out of your control. Most likely you already know that you should also avoid the use of chlorine-based bleach, which will break parts off of most dye molecules, destroying their color.

The dyes your current uniforms have been dyed with are either inferior dyes that fade quickly, such as direct dyes (see "About Direct Dyes"), or they are dyes that have been applied incorrectly, so they don't attach as well as they otherwise might. Direct dyes are the most likely answer, because they are a very inexpensive sort of dye, especially for industrial use.

It is possible to improve the washfastness of direct dyes significantly. The old claims that soaking with vinegar or with salt will "set" the dye and prolong its life are false, but there is a type of commercial dye fixative that actually does work. This class of product is known as a cationic dye fixative; there are many brands, such as Retayne. (See my page, "Commercial Dye Fixatives".) You might be able to find Retayne at a local quilter's supply store, or possibly from some local fabric stores, but chances are that you'll need to buy it by mail-order. A couple of the many good sources are PRO Chemical & Dye in the eastern US, and Dharma Trading Company in the west; order from a company that is closer to you, for greater speed and economy in shipping, or order from whichever has other supplies that you need. Both of the companies I mention are also excellent sources for Procion MX dyes, at extremely reasonable prices. (For contact info for these and other dye retailers, see "Sources for Dyeing Supplies Around the World".)

Cationic dye fixatives such as Retayne are not quite as effective as using a superior fiber reactive dye from the start. Retayne-treated fabrics will stay bright without fading many times as long as untreated direct dyes will, but they are more susceptible to light fading than untreated direct dyes, and the Retayne treatment, unfortunately, can be removed by washing in hot water. The treatment is easy to apply, though, and, with just the minor care of avoiding drying in sunlight and avoiding washing in hot water (or, of course, with color-destroying bleach), it will preserve the current color of the uniforms you have now for quite a while.

Procion MX dyes are easy to use, because their color is set by the common household chemical known as soda ash or washing soda, rather than by boiling, as some other dyes are set. Room temperature water is sufficient. The easiest way to use Procion MX dyes to produce a single solid color would be to gather several of your uniforms to dye at once in a washing machine, and follow the directions that can be found in the links on the page, "How can I dye clothing or fabric in the washing machine?". Using a washing machine to apply the dye frees you from the drudgery of having to stir your garments in a large bucket for an hour, along with the dye, soda ash, and salt.

The fading of even the best dyes due to chlorine in the water supply can be slowed by adding a product called Anti-Chlor (sodium metabisulfite) to the wash water, but it is far more important to choose a good dye such as Procion MX dye, or to treat inferior dyes with Retayne. The two answers of using a superior dye or using a cationic dye fixative are what you need to concentrate on. Of course, you should also avoid using chlorine bleach, though the oxygen-based products labeled "color safe bleach" are generally safe for dyes.

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Posted: Monday - March 19, 2012 at 07:47 AM

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How to make dye color last longer in martial arts uniforms

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