Home dye problem....

[hellymelly]

Dyed something green over a week ago (in washing machine). Ran a wash through afterwards with an empty machine. Have carried on washing things since (at least two washes a day). Yesterday one wash of lights, on a standard cycle, came out slightly green I thought. The next wash was colours and none of the paler bits looked green. Then today I did a white wash, again on a regular cycle, and it all looked very pale green. So I emptied the fluff catching bit, in case it was bunged up, and then ran the greenish stuff through a 60 degree wash with some eco bleach. It has all come out far greener! My lovely pale cream cords are now light green! And my dds best white dress. What is happening? Any ideas?

What dye did you use? Did you follow the instructions to the letter? Was it Dylon dye or a different brand?

I have dyed probably fifty times in the washing machine and have never ever had this problem. The dyes are usually pretty good in that respect. I have used jet black and then done a whites wash next with no problem.

PS the only other thing to try is running the machine on a few cycles , empty, very hot, with soda crystals. I can't think where on earth the dye is clinging to in such an amount that you can still see it on whites washes, but clearly its pipes need cleaning out somewhere.

Um... did you spill any dye in the rim when you put the dye in the machine?

I haven't checked the rubber seal bit, I will do that shortly, is that what you mean by the rim? The dye isn't dylon, it's an American brand. I did follow the instructions, (I hope!!!)and the dye is in a little soluble bag so it didn't spill anywhere. I've dyed things before with no problems but I have only used Dylon until now. (Dylon didn't have the colour I wanted). I will try an empty boil wash tomorrow, but like you am mystified as to where on earth the dye is lingering. It isn't as if it is the next wash, it is a week later.

To be honest I didn't think it could be Dylon. Their dye are so good at not staining (however their colour range is frustratingly limited).

I think the clue is in your last post. The little soluble bag? It's quite possible that the bag did not melt away fully like it should and instead is lodged somewhere, leaching dye out. Only a small amount would be needed to give a colour tinge to whites washing. This is why you are still getting colour tinges a week later. I think you probably do need to do some empty, very hot cycles (hot to melt the bag). Soda crystals won't hurt. Did the dye have a temperature requirement on it?

The dye was supposed to be as hot as possible, the item I dyed was silk so I couldn't do a really hot wash. DH also thought maybe the bag was lodged somewhere, it looked like polythene, but was the sort of stuff that turns to gel in water. I think I need to really examine the seal don't I? Could it be anywhere else if there is nothing there?

And I only did machine rather than stove-top to avoid the mess....

There's your problem then Helly!! There was a reason the water needed to be as hot as possible - to melt the bag! Have you ever used a soluble washing liquitab? If your hands are wet when handling them they go sticky like chewing gum - this is probably what's happened in using the dye bags at lower temp - warm enough to melt but not melt away completely.

The bag might be in the seal. If it's not there then it's likely that the partly melted remains have slipped somewhere behind the drum and are lodged somewhere you cant see or reach, having not washed out of the machine. If you can't find the bag in the seal then do the hot cycles with soda crystals for added oomph.

X posts... did the dye say it was suitable for washing machines? If it has stove-top instructions then it's probably not at all suitable for washing machines for the reason you have found out!

Still - not to worry. Hopefully hot cycles will sort it out :)

Note from someone who does a lot of crafting/making/dyeing etc - always follow the instructions to the letter! :) glue guns, staple guns, fabric paints... they all have instructions on best use.. for a reason!

Yes it was ok for a washing machine, but also had stove top instructions. The washing machine instructions on the packet were for top loaders (US machines usually are I think) but on their website there were also directions for front loaders. I have wiped inside the door seal and there was a lot of green dye there, so possibly you are right cloudkitten , and the bag lodged there. I've never used those liquitabs, so no experience of dissolving stuff. Think you must be right about the temp too. I really hope it is not behind the drum. Anyway I've cleaned the seal well, and the green stuff is now on another bleachy wash to see if I can get it white...

Oh and thanks for all the advice-v.helpful.