I need to dye a sofa!

[Shooflypie]

Just had covers of cream (yes I know) sofa dry cleaned and it still looks grotty so have decided to dye it. I think I'd like to get it done professionally - I don't think it would fit in my machine and am worried about dyeing all our clothes for weeks afterwards. I've only found one company online which charges £200 to do an armchair
Any ideas anyone?

[Bensonbluebird]

I have no helpful advice, but I looked into this a while ago and could only find one company that would do it and they charged almost as much as new sofas. I gave up and re-covered the sofas myself. Would loose covers work on your sofa? maybe that is the way forward?

[Shooflypie]

Thanks Benson, sorry wasn't clear it's loose covers I am wanting to dye.
I don't think the main sofa one will squeeze into my washing machine - hence want to find someone who will do this...

[GentleOtter]

I used several packs of Dylon machine dye and did one of those canvas covers that painters use to keep floors clean. They are massive and more than big enough to cover a sofa.
It came out funkily well and has now been washed loads of times.
If you have bland cushion covers, lob them in as well.

[Shooflypie]

Thanks GO - no fallout with subsequent washing then? I notice people say they've dyed clothes then find everything else goes the same colour in the next few washes?

[GentleOtter]

The water ran a bit pink for a while (the cover was dyed shocking pink ) and for a couple of washes after I dyed the cover, I just washed black or navy clothes so it would not matter if they had picked up any pink.
I think you are meant to run the washing machine on empty to clean it out afterwards but I never bothered doing it.
5 years later it is still pretty good and dries surprisingly quickly on the line.
It shrank a little being 100% cotton but not much.