Name: Brenda
Message: I've got a top loader washing machine which is quite rare here in the UK, and our dyes say use a front loader only.  Do you have any idea why I can't use a top loader?

Front loading washing machines use less water, so you don't have to put as much dye or soda ash into them. Top-loading machines work very well for dyeing, but you will have to use different recipes because of their greater water usage. Front-loading washing machines are still in the minority here in the US, so all of our dyeing recipes are for top-loading washing machines.

Do you know how much water your washing machine holds? If not, you can find out by pouring gallon jugs of water into it until the water reaches its usual level. A typical top-loader in the US holds twenty gallons of water. I don't know what volume is held by a typical front-loader. Front-loaders are said to use half as much water as top-loaders, so perhaps you will have success if you just use twice as much of the dye and any auxiliary ingredients. The Dylon Machine dye instructions call for one packet of dye per pound of fabric, but a typical top-loading washing machine load contains eight pounds of fabric, so you might need to use up to eight packets, depending on how much fabric you are dyeing.

For information on washing machine dyeing, and links to recipes, see this page:
How can I dye clothing or fabric in the washing machine?
http://www.pburch.net/dyeing/FAQ/washingmachine.shtml

To buy the same kinds of dye used in these recipes from mail-order companies in the UK, scroll down to the appropriate section of my page on
Sources for Dyeing Supplies Around the World, at
http://www.pburch.net/dyeing/dyesources.shtml

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