It’s normal to have leftover dye after you tie-dye a shirt. I always try using any leftover dye quickly. I always keep spare blanks ready to tie-dye. This is not always possible, as sometimes your dye goes bad and its color is not what it used to be.
Dye bottles containing only water and dye last for about a week. When dye fixer is added, they only last a few hours. Dispose of spoiled dyes by pouring them down the drain.
In this article we will explore whether you really need to throw your dyes out. We’ll also cover the safety of dyes and see if it’s safe to pour them down the drain.
This article specifically refers to fiber-reactive dyes, the kind of dye used in tie-dye. Disposal methods for other types of dyes can be different.
Can you Reuse Leftover Dyes?
Short of using it you are sometimes faced with the choice of storing your dyes for another time or to throw them out. If you don’t have much dye left in your bottles you can add in some more water to dilute the solution and make it enough.
Store your dyes in the refrigerator to extend their lifespan. This is enough to keep them fresh for the next day.
Once your dyes are already made they are very quick to use, so is the perfect time to grab a blank and to fold and dye it. Sometimes this is not possible and you need to get rid of your dye.
Can you Pour Dyes Down the Drain?
You might be unsure whether it is safe to pour your dyes directly down the drain. No one wants to harm the environment if they can help it.
You can safely dispose of your leftover dye in the sink or the bathtub. Turn on the water to dilute the dye. Small quantities of liquid dye solution quickly get diluted on their way to the water treatment plant.
This is, in fact, the common way of disposing of old and spent dyes. Most people get rid of their dyes by pouring them down the drain. In small quantities this does not have an impact and is the safest way to dispose of them.
How to Dispose of Dye Powder
Dye powder stays good for a long time (2-5 years) if stored properly. So it is unlikely that you would ever need to throw it away. Try giving it to a friend first.
Place your dye powder in a sealed, rigid container and throw it in the trash. You don’t want the dyes to get loose. Dye particles are very fine and can get airborne if left in the open.
If you have large quantities of dye powder to get rid off it would be preferable to send them to a waste treatment facility.
Are Dyes Toxic?
Why is it that we can pour dye down the drain? Something that lets you color a shirt so brilliantly must be toxic, right?
Fiber-reactive dyes are not toxic. They do not contain harmful heavy metals. While this is true, you should not have extended contact with any dye products.
Dyes can temporarily stain your skin, which is pretty benign, but be careful not to breathe them in. Like any fine powder they can irritate your mucous membranes. Also try not to manipulate it with your bare hands.
Are Dyes Bad for the Environment?
You should never dispose of your dyes outside. While they are not toxic to life, they can still be a nuisance to the environment.
No, reactive dyes are not toxic to the environment at large. While this is the case, you should try not to spill dye outside.
Dye that is spilled outside should be rinsed off and diluted with water to minimize its impact. It will wash off naturally with rain, but it’s better to try and contain any spill.
Disposal of Large Quantities of Dye
These methods are geared towards the disposal of large quantities of dye. Once your start making tie-dye commercially you might need to start thinking about the disposal of large amounts of dye.
Too much dye in the sewers can pose problems to water treatment facilities. Some are not well equipped to treat large quantities of dye.
Whether it’s leftover dye or colored water from rinsing the garment, commercial operations need to take special care.
There are three mains ways to reduce the impact of your dyed waste water. These methods are : evaporation, filtration, and enzymes.