RitAll-Purpose Powder Dye, Denim Blue

*Jan. 17, 2017: They're starting to slightly fade, but only very slightly. Certainly not any more than a newly purchased pair.*Apr. 13, 2016: Still no issues with fading, they still look good.*Jan. 6, 2016: They still look good. I'll stress to wash them separately the first 3-5 times to avoid staining other clothes.I like how the jeans and shirts I dyed turned out. I should have taken a before picture, but I didn't plan on writing a review until after I finished. The jeans were very faded, almost white at the knees and some permanent dirt stains. I followed the instructions for the most part, but here's what I did, which allowed me to not have to use a cup of salt for each pair of jeans: 3 gallons of 150°F water in a bucket, mixed one cup of salt, 1 packet of navy blue and 1/2 packet of black. The instructions specify one packet per pound of fabric, since these jeans weigh 1.5 pounds, that's right on spec.I submerged the first pair of jeans in hot clean water first before placing into the dye solution as per Rit's instructions, but I didn't do that for the three subsequent pairs, I can't see any difference in the end result. I left the jeans in the dye for about 30 minutes each, mixing with gloved hands and sticks about every 10 minutes or so. Rit's instructions say to stir constantly for the first 20 minutes then occasionally for 10 minutes. I didn't do that, but the results were still very uniform. After I removed the first pair, I added another packet of navy blue and 1/2 packet of black and did the same for the third pair. I was worried that adding more dye to the existing dye not absorbed in the first pair of jeans would cause the second and third pair to be way darker, but that was not the case. For the fourth pair, I added nothing and the jeans came out very slightly lighter than the first three pairs. The fourth pair was also lined with flannel and weighed more.Consecutively, I dyed five faded black shirts (2.5 lbs). I used a bottle of liquid black combined with a 1/2 packet of black and dyed all five shirts at the same time with great results. The bottle of liquid is good for 2 lbs. of fabric.I find after reading others’ reviews that it’s important to keep the temperature of the solution to at least 140 degrees. I achieved that with my sous vide cooker in between pairs (immersed heating element with a circulator). Other methods I suggest would be a 4-5 gallon stock pot and a thermometer, or topping off with boiling water (which will dilute the salt and the dye, so may need to add more).After everything was dyed, I hung everything up outside for about 1/2 hour, then plunged the jeans then the shirts each into a 6 gallon bucket of clean water and rang them out. I then ran the jeans then shirts separately in a short cold water washing machine cycle and hung everything to dry. After wearing, I plan to put both the shirts and the jeans into their own laundry pile together and wash them all again by themselves to ensure the color has set.I forgot to add a squirt of dishwashing soap to the dye solution as Rit suggests. I imagine that would have further ensured penetration into the fabric by reducing the surface tension of the solution.Use rubber gloves. I did and I found out that one finger had a very small hole in it because that finger is now blue. I figured the two plastic buckets I used would be forever stained blue, but they weren’t.I’ll update in the future to report on how everything holds up to washing and wear.All in all, this represents over $300 of clothing when new, feels pretty good to be able to restore everything for about $15 worth of dye/salt and two hours of time (even less because I did other stuff while soaking and ignoring the 20 minute agitation)!

I love this dye the directions are so clear and it works great. The color looks amazing!! Easy to user

I use RIT products all the time. Does a great job coloring the material. Never had an issue. Just make sure you follow the directions on the box and you will have a beautifully dyed product.

This dress I bought at a thrift store and once I got it home I found a couple of spots where the color had faded. I liked the design of the dress so I decided to try to dye it. The dress was originally a light sage green and after reading reviews on the sage green dye not covering well, I decided to go for a darker green in hopes it would dye lighter. Nope, I followed the stovetop directions and after leaving it in the water for 5 minutes, I got scared about how dark it was and rinsed it out. The dress looks black now, with sage green lace (since apparently the lace did not hold the dye color). I still may wear it, but it’s a far cry from its original look. The dye did cover well on the cotton portion of the dress. The lace and a lining underneath remained lighter due to their fabric not holding the color.

I 've used RIT DYE since I was a kid, for about a hundred years. It does work well and the colors hold if used as instructed (being a guy, I don't remember if I have ever completely read the instructions, but it's pretty simple minded). The color may not last as long as the original, but it's feasible to repeat in a reasonable period. And it will dye anything within a 15 foot radius if not performed in a controlled procedure.I find outdoors is a safer area. I start with clearing a 15 radius of anything I cant afford to replace or have cleaned or reDye to its original color, or if it will involve a Vet. I wear clothing of similar or insignificant color. Being a veteran Pro, I've eliminated the goggles, gloves, respirator, knee pads and steel toe boots. What makes it easy and way less messy, I use one of those notorious 'fire bomb' outside deep-fry Turkey Fryers and a 5 gallon plastic bucket to rinse and set the color.I bring about 4 gallons of water almost to a boil, then lower my Pants into the water, let the temp rise while I mix the Dye-Salt solution. I use a wooden hoe handle to mix and lift out the hot/wet pants - into a 5 gallon bucket with the turkey basket in it. This leaves about 3 gallons of water that I then add the solution and mix a bit. While the pants are still pretty hot and excess water dripped off, I carefully lift and lower them into the Dye mix. Then it's a matter of poking and swishing them carefully around to pick up the Dye in every part. About the time your arms give out, they should be done. Turn off the burner, let it simmer.I add a few gallons of warm water to the 5 gallon plastic bucket (remove the turkey basket). Then lift, let them drip off excess before lowering them into the warm clean water. After lightly moving them around to lower the temperature, I use a water hose to add another gallon. Then pour out the water and submerge them in cold tap water. Hang them up to dry. Wash them with other jeans, then into the dryer.works for me....... and no animals were harmed during the process. And a new matching hoe handle bonus.(sorry if any sarcasm may have offended you, but it was directed toward those unfortunately stuck on Easter Egg dyeing)