How to Bleach a Sweatshirt
Bleach is a powerful dyeing chemical that can change the color of many types of fabric. However, some fabrics aren’t suitable for bleaching. Protein fibers, such as wool and silk, are especially prone to damage from the chemical.
Cellulose fibers, such as cotton, linen, and hemp are more resistant to the effects of bleach. They can still change their color when they’re bleached but will usually take a lighter hue.
If you want to bleach a sweatshirt that is made of wool or silk, conduct a swatch test first. This will help you determine the amount of bleach needed to remove the dye.
To test your yarn, soak a small swatch in bleach and let it sit for 10 minutes or so. Check it again in a few hours to see if the color has been removed completely.
Make sure you work in a well-ventilated area and wear rubber gloves to protect your hands. The fumes from bleach can be dangerous if they get into the air.
You can also do a swatch test by spraying a small amount of bleach onto a piece of paper and waiting a few hours to see what happens. This method is often used to test a dye’s compatibility with bleach before actually dying the yarn.
The color of a sweatshirt may vary depending on the dyeing process that was used to create it. In addition, different kinds of dyes will give different results when bleached.
Black shirts, for example, will usually change to a reddish or faded orange color. Purple and maroon shirts will often turn pink, while lighter blues will typically remain white when bleached.
If you’re not happy with the color, you can try removing the dye using an acid-based product like lemon juice or vinegar. This method will also give you a more vibrant result than using bleach alone.
Tie-Dyeing Your Sweatshirt
When you’re ready to tie-dye your shirt, use your fingers to scrunch the fabric and pull the edges of the garment toward the center. Secure the fabric with rubber bands in a variety of places. If you’re trying to create stripes, you can do pairs of rubber bands about half a centimeter apart down the garment.
After you’ve done this for all the areas you want to tie-dye, fill a small squirt bottle with water and bleach. Squirt the bleach solution over the areas you’ve tied-dyed and let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes.
Once you’ve let it sit for a while, rinse the fabric and set it aside to dry for about 15 minutes before removing the rubber bands. Then, lay the t-shirt out on a flat surface and see if there are any spots that need more bleach.
Repeat the process on any other areas that aren’t showing signs of bleaching yet. You can do this until you’re satisfied with the look of your shirt.
The bleaching process is a bit time consuming and can vary depending on the fabric you’re working with. It can take a few times before you’re completely satisfied with your results, but the final product will be worth it!
