Dyeing towels yourself: fresh colour for your favourite pieces
Dyeing towels: when is it worthwhile?
Frequent washing or a small mishap can leave your terry towel looking less appealing than it did when new. Perhaps it has stains or has faded? Textile dyes allow you to refresh such towels, as well as dye white towels or change the colour of existing ones. Dyeing is particularly worthwhile for high-quality towels – and of course for favourite pieces you’re not ready to part with. In this article, we explain what you need to keep in mind.
What do you need to dye towels?
The easiest way to dye towels is by using textile dye in the washing machine. These dyes are available in liquid or powder form. Modern dyes do not stain the machine, so there is no need for an empty wash cycle afterwards – simply run another wash to remove any excess dye from the towel.
One pack of textile dye usually colours around 300 to 600 grams of fabric. It’s best to weigh your items accurately, as otherwise the colour may turn out too light or uneven. Once dyed, the colour is typically boil-proof, meaning the towels can still be washed hygienically at higher temperatures.
Ways to dye towels
You don’t have to dye towels in a single, uniform colour. You can also try tie-dye techniques or create an ombré effect with a gradual colour transition. This can be done manually in a pot rather than in the washing machine. For this, you’ll need rubber bands to divide the towel into sections. You can then dye specific areas, rinse the towel and allow it to dry.
Which towels can be dyed?
The lighter the towel, the easier it is to dye. However, standard textile dyes can only make fabrics darker or more vibrant than their current colour – lightening is not possible. It’s similar to hair dyeing: going darker is easy, going lighter requires much stronger chemicals.
Keep in mind that the towel’s existing colour will influence the final result. For example, dyeing bright yellow towels blue will likely result in green rather than a true royal blue. Any stains may also affect the outcome, meaning you might need to dye the towel more than once.
You should also check whether the material is suitable for dyeing. Natural fibres such as cotton, linen or viscose are generally easy to dye and can withstand washing at 60°C – the temperature required for dyeing. Purely synthetic materials can be more difficult or even impossible to dye. Terry towels made from blended fabrics can usually be dyed successfully with most textile dyes. For best results, always ensure the correct ratio of towel weight to dye.
Bold towel colours for your home
If you love colourful towels, you’ll find vibrant options in our collections such as BLISS, BAMBOO LUXE and SUPERWUSCHEL. Striking shades bring a cheerful atmosphere to your bathroom and lift your mood.