Will fabric dye stain my pot, sink or bathtub? & how to fix (2023)

My favorite dyeing containers are plastic tubs and metal dyeing pots. I have also dyed fabric in bathtubs, kitchen sinks, laundry rooms, and often use my washing machine to wash dyed fabric. In most cases, I use fiber and acid reactive stains instead of box stains. Box dyes like Rit and Dylon are more of a "generalist" dye, so they contain a wider variety of dyes. The risk of box dyes staining something unexpectedly is greater than the risk of fiber-reactive and acid-reactive dyes.

The safest dye containers to use are plastic buckets and metal dye canisters. Plastic buckets are easy to replace, and paint cans are nearly impossible to stain. Fabric dye can stain bathtubs, the plastic components of washing machines, and some types of sinks, so the safest option is to avoid dyeing these things. If you're having trouble with a dye stain, there are a few cleaners you can try to remove the stain.

Content list:

• Will fabric paint stain my sink?
• Will it stain my stainless steel sink?
• Will it stain my kitchen?
• Will it stain my washing machine?
• Will it stain plastic containers?
• Will it stain the pans?
• Will it stain my bathtub?

Will fabric paint stain my sink?

The probability of staining the sink depends on the material from which it is made. If your sink is made of porcelain, fiberglass, acrylic, "composite" (the molded plastic variety), or stone, it's best to avoid directly staining the sink. These materials are more likely to absorb the dye. If your sink is stainless steel, you can stain the inside because it is a difficult surface to stain. Watch thesection “stainless steel”below for more details.

I recommend purchasing a sink bucket or other plastic container that will fit inside the sink for staining.

A small splatter of paint that is cleaned up right away is less likely to stain than a bath of paint that is left in the sink for hours.

How to fix an ink stain in the sink:

If you stain an item in your sink and find the stain just won't come off, start by scrubbing with Dawn Dish Soap to gently remove the stain. If that doesn't work, you can try a kitchen cleaner that contains a little bit of bleach or a mild abrasive like Bar Keeper's Friend or powdered Ajax.

Will fabric dye stain my stainless steel sink?

Stainless steel, as its name suggests, is one of the most difficult surfaces to stain. These sinks are a great place to experiment with staining, especially if you're working in a small space or without buckets. And even if you dye your item in a bucket, you'll still need to pour the dye out somehow.

In most cases, if you see stain residue on your stainless steel sink, you have stained things.stuckto the surface instead of the metal itself.

How to fix a dye stain on your stainless steel sink:

To avoid staining, give the sink a good clean before you start staining. If you notice residue in a sink after staining or pouring stain, it can usually be removed with abrasive cleaners like Bar Keeper's Friend, a baking soda paste, or a cleaner that contains a little bit of bleach.

If you are going to stain a stainless steel sink, be very careful with the rubber seal on the sink stopper as it is very likely to stain (see“plastics” sectionbelow for details).

Will fabric dye stain my kitchen?

Sinks aren't the only thing that can accidentally get dirty in your home. Areas around your workspace are also at risk. Keep an eye on the countertop, tile and grout (or linoleum), and silicone caulk that may be sealing the sink-to-countertop connection.

stone benches

If you have stone countertops, be very careful with the stain. Lay down a layer of plastic (I like to open a garbage bag) followed by newspaper to absorb any spills. Clean up unintentional spills immediately and follow the installers cleaning instructions, as some stone countertops are sensitive to different types of cleaners.

laminate countertops

If you have laminate countertops, I've found that they're actually more durable than you might think. In my experience, acid stains and fiber-reactive stains will stain laminate countertops immediately, but the stain can be easily removed by pouring a small puddle of bleach onto the stain, letting it sit for a few minutes until the mark is gone, then cleaning it. Our laminate countertops are off-white in the yellow direction, so proceed with caution if yours are bright white.

baldosa or mortar

Your tile is probably protected from stain staining, and any that don't clean right away can probably be removed with a powder mop (although you do have to watch out for chips).

However, grout can permanently absorb paint stains, especially if it is old or unsealed grout. If the grout is stained, you can try scrubbing it with a stiff-bristled brush and an abrasive bathroom cleaner (preferably one that contains bleach), but you may need to turn to specialist grout cleaners.

silicone caulking

Silicone caulk should be replaced at regular (albeit infrequent) intervals. As silicone caulk nears the end of its useful life, it can begin to flake off the surfaces it's attached to, and liquids like paint can seep through the cracks. While the paint won't stain the silicone, it can get under the silicone and add color where it shouldn't.

In my experience, the best way to fix this is to pour a little bit of liquid bleach over the area and cross your fingers that it works its way through the same cracks to neutralize the color. If you do this, don't leave it on for more than ten minutes at a time. This works most of the time, but ultimately if your caulking does this, it might be time to replace the seals around the sink.

Will fabric dye stain my washing machine?

As a dry cleaner who learned in a professional context, I feel the risk of damage is too great to dye fabric in a washing machine. I've talked to a handful of professional dyers, and none of the ones I know use a washing machine to dye fabric. But it's important to know that the dyes we use (including fiber-reactive and acid-reactive dyes) don't follow the same processes as box dyes like Dylon and Rit, so it's a bit of an unfair comparison.

That being said, we often wash freshly dyed garments in the washing machine to remove excess dye. The nice thing about this is that the intensity of the chemical reaction happens outside of the washing machine (in the bucket, usually) and then the machine washes away the residue.

The professional dry cleaners I know use a separate washing machine to wash dyed items, so there is no risk of them transferring to the rest of the clothes. While stains can be a problem with washing machines, the real risk is that the dye will remain in your machine, resulting in accidental dyeing of future loads of laundry.

Rit and Dylon recommend that you thoroughly clean your washing machine after a dye session. While the risk of the case paint staining the metal is negligible, the plastic parts of your machine are at risk of staining. For example, the agitator flaps and the rubber seal. This is especially true if the stain has been left on these surfaces for an extended period of time. In fact, the Dylon website states that staining is to be expected on plastic surfaces.

Ink is more likely to stain plastic when colors are particularly dark or rich. If you're dyeing multiple items, say baby blue, the washing machine method might be safer for you.

How to fix an ink stain in the washing machine:

If you notice stains after dyeing your fabric in the washing machine, some people have mentioned that doing one or two hot washes with an empty machine and a little bit of bleach can help remove stains.

Regardless, running a hot wash after you've finished dyeing with your machine is a good idea to make sure future loads of clothes won't stain.

Does fabric dye stain plastic containers?

Plastic is one of the most affordable containers to stain, but it is also the easiest to stain. I've dedicated bins of paint that I don't mind staining, but there are a few things you can do to keep plastic looking new for longer.

When selecting a container, you can choose a darker color that will help hide stains. However, if you plan to mix colors in the container, avoid colors that may affect the appearance of the stain. In that case, choose a white or clear container with a smooth glossy finish rather than a matte surface. The matte finish on some containers can help trap paint and hold it against the surface. This will give the dye a higher tinting power.

If your bin is partially plastic, be sure to focus your cleaning efforts on the plastic areas first. While stain behavior varies from brand to brand, in my experience, a stain will only stain plastic if it's left on a surface for an extended period of time and dries. Cleaning well and promptly is the best way to avoid stains.

In general, I do not recommend dyeing in any plastic container that you are not willing to risk dyeing. Plastic buckets are my preferred method of dyeing fiber-reactive dyes for fabrics like cotton, rayon, and bamboo. I have like 6 cubes of different colors and sizes, and although the inside is very clean, the outside is stained with stains because I never bother to clean them. I bought these at the dollar store for 99 cents each and they work great for my purposes.

Will fabric dye stain my cookware?

After using a pot of dye, it is no longer a pot of food. The tincture introduces chemicals into the pot that you don't want inside your body. Even if we can remove all visual evidence of the dye, ingesting chemical dyes isn't worth the risk.

That said, it's pretty rare to see paint leave a permanent residue in a paint bucket. In some cases, you may see a ring mark. This can happen when the dye sits in the pot for a long time, so some of the dye evaporates and dries on the upper edges of the dye bath.

This can usually be cleaned with a mild abrasive like Bar Keeper's Friend or a kitchen cleaner that contains a little bleach.

My favorite dye jar for acid dyes (used to dye wools, silks, and nylons) is an inexpensive soup jar that I bought for under $10. I keep it separate from the other jars in my kitchen so no one accidentally uses it. I've had it for over a decade and although it does have a few dents, it still hasn't stained.

Will fabric paint stain my bathtub?

Modern bathtubs are made from materials such as thermoformed acrylic, fiberglass, and ceramic. If you live in an older home, yours might be porcelain-enameled cast iron. Each of these materials has different care requirements and different degrees of risk when staining.

If you are dyeing in aporcelain enamel bathtub or a modern ceramic bathtub with a gloss finish, it is highly unlikely that the stain will stain your bathtub.Although, if the tub is chipped, there's a chance the stain will find that chip and suck it under the surrounding surface.

if you have oneFiberglass or thermoformed acrylic bathtub, I suggest testing your tint on an inconspicuous surface in your bathtub before you begin, if possible.Tubs are coated with a stain-resistant finish, but on some less expensive tubs, these finishes can wear off over time, leaving the surface more susceptible to ink absorption.While these tubs are unlikely to stain (less likely to stain than plastic ones, by a considerable margin), it's worth proceeding with caution, especially since tubs are much harder to replace than a plastic bucket! !

How to fix an ink stain in your bathtub:

If you find dye residue in your bathtub after a dye bath, try cleaning it up with dish soap first. This is the gentlest on surfaces but excellent for lifting paint. If that doesn't work, you can try a lightweight scrubber like Bar Keeper's Friend or Ajax Cleaning Powder.

What to read next:

• The best fabric dyes for 23 fabrics
• How to dye silk from start to finish(4 shapes)
• How to dye silk fabrics with natural dyes(Step by Step)
• – 5 Methods
• How to dye jeans black– Complete guide for beginners
• – the complete guide
• 18 realistic things to dye at home(+ Advice from a professional)

This article was written by Kat Waters and edited by Sara Maker.

Kat Waters (author)
Kat has been sewing for as long as her feet could reach the pedals, starting with quilts she made with her mother and then moving on to clothing. She now makes everything she wears, occasionally teaches classes and shares her projects on social media. Her highlights include her wedding dress, shoe making, and love for almost every fabric that comes in hot pink!See More information…

origins

These sources were referenced in March 2022.

• https://www.ritdye.com/instructions/how-to-dye-using-the-sink-or-bucket-method/
• https://www.ritdye.com/faq/will-rit-stain-my-washing-machine-what-is-the-best-method-to-clean-dye-from-the-washer-basket/
• https://www.dylon.co.uk/en/home/todo-sobre-dylon/faq.cky.html
• https://forums.digitalspy.com/discussion/1249073/washing-machine-dylon-dye-mishap
• https://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/housekeeping/2090829-Dyeing-something-dark-denim-in-the-washing-machine
• https://ask.metafilter.com/225636/Estoy-teñiendo-aquí
• http://practicalandpretty.com/how-to-clean-stainless-steel-sink/
• https://www.reddit.com/r/sewing/comments/d3tply/fabric_dye_stained_my_bathtub/
• https://www.thespruce.com/mejor-bathtub-material-2718999
• http://www.pburch.net/dyeing/dyeblog/C765382484/E20071125145348/index.html