How to Dye a Swimsuit

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: January 23, 2022 References

Dyeing a swimsuit is a fun, easy and inexpensive way to give it new life. Nylon suits take dye easily and do well with acid dyes. Polyester suits, which are rare these days, are more difficult to dye and require a specific type of dye and a little more commitment. Whether you want a solid color or you want to tie-dye your suit, we'll walk you through all the ways to dye your swimsuit to give it new life!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Dyeing Your Nylon Swimsuit

1
Choose an acid dye for your nylon suit. Acid dyes offer the brightest and longest lasting color for your suit with no bleeding. The most common brand name of acid dye is Jacquard.^{[1]
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- Check the label in your suit to make sure it is nylon or a nylon/spandex blend.
- If you are dyeing over another color, make sure to choose a dye that is much darker than the original. For example, if your suit is yellow, choose black or dark blue dye for the best results. The dye will not work on a dark colored suit.
2
Wash your suit before dyeing. Soak the clean suit in warm water for an hour ahead of time. This loosens the fibers and allows the dye to be more effective.^{[2]
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3
Prepare your work space so it is easy to clean up any spills. Have rags and paper towels on hand and consider covering the table or counters with a plastic tablecloth or with old towels. Use rubber gloves and tongs to protect your hands.
4
Fill a large pot with enough warm water to cover the suit. Make sure the suit can float free from the bottom of the pot, so all of the fabric is reached by the dye bath. Place the pot on the stovetop.
- It is important to use an oversized pot to avoid hot water and dye bubbling over.
- Remove your suit from the pot once you've decided on the amount of water. You will want to add the dye to the pot of water and stir it in thoroughly before putting your swimsuit back in.
5
Dissolve the powdered dye in the pot and then add your suit. Adjust the stovetop to a medium heat as you stir the mixture. Allow 3 to 5 minutes for the powder to fully dissolve. Add your suit and stir it gently so all the fabric gets exposed to the dye. Spread the suit out as much as possible within the bath.
- Follow the manufacturer's instructions to determine how much dye to use for your swimsuit. Typically, you will use one package of powder dye for every 1 pound (450 g) of fabric or less.
6
Bring the dye bath to 200 °F (93 °C). Increase the heat and watch until the mixture begins to boil gently. Stir frequently.^{[3]
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7
Add ¹⁄₄ cup (59 ml) of vinegar or 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of citric acid. After the first five minutes of the boil, stir the vinegar or citric acid into the mixture. Avoid pouring the acid directly onto your suit.^{[4]
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- Vinegar and citric acid are equally effective as fixatives. Citric acid is cheaper and doesn't smell, but most people already have vinegar on hand.
8
Remove your swimsuit after 30-60 minutes. The longer you keep your suit in the dye bath, the darker the color will be. It is important that you stir the mixture occasionally. As you do, notice the color as it deepens. Remove the suit when it reaches the color of choice.
- Once you've removed your suit, rinse it in very hot water until the water runs clear.
- When you hang your suit to dry, make sure you place an old towel underneath to prevent staining your floor.
- Hand wash your suit alone for the first few washings.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Dyeing a Polyester Suit

1
Choose a disperse dye for polyester suits. Disperse dyes are made specifically for synthetic fibers and the results are worth the extra few steps that it requires. The most common brand name maker of disperse dye is PRO Chemical and Dye.^{[5]
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- Check the label in your suit to make sure you have a polyester or poly blend suit.
- Take important safety precautions when using disperse dye. Wear a face mask, rubber gloves, and an apron. Make sure the space you are using to do the dyeing is well ventilated.
- Only attempt to dye a suit that is light to medium in color and always choose a dye that is darker than the original color.
2
Prepare your swimsuit by soaking it in ¹⁄₂ cup (120 ml) soda ash and 1 gallon (3.8 L) warm water. Place soda ash into the water and stir while it dissolves. Put your suit in the mixture and stir with your gloved hands or with a metal spoon. Let the suit soak for 10 minutes and then hang it to dry without rinsing it.^{[6]
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- An alternative to soda ash is Synthrapol, another agent that helps dyes set into synthetic fibers. Use ¹⁄₂ teaspoon (2.5 ml) for 1 pound (450 g) of fabric. Combine the Synthrapol with warm water and wash your suit in the mixture.^{[7]
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3
Dissolve the disperse dye in 1 cup (240 ml) of boiling water. Stir the dye powder into the boiling water. Allow the mixture to cool and then use old stockings or a coffee filter to strain.
- The amount of dye you use will vary according to the depth of color you are trying to achieve. For a pale shade, you can use as little as ¹⁄₄ teaspoon (1.2 ml). For medium shades, use ³⁄₄ teaspoon (3.7 ml) and for dark shades, up the dye amount to 3 teaspoons (15 ml).
4
Fill a large pot with enough water to fully submerge your suit. Place it on the stovetop and turn the stove to medium heat. You will want to bring the water to approximately 100 °F (38 °C).
- Remove your suit from the pot once you've decided on the amount of water. You will want to add the dye and dispersing agent into the pot before putting your swimsuit back in.
5
Add the dye, dispersing agent, and your suit to the pot. While the water heats up, stir the pot and add each ingredient in the order listed:
- Dissolved disperse dye
- ¹⁄₂ teaspoon (2.5 ml) of dispersing agent
- Your suit
6
Bring the dye bath to a gentle boil. After 2 minutes, lower the heat on the stove to simmer. Stir occasionally and remember that the longer you leave your suit in the bath, the darker it will become. Keep an eye on the color and remove when you reach your desired color. This should take 30-45 minutes.
- If it becomes clear that the color is not dark enough, you can add more dissolved dye to the bath at any time.
7
Combine ¹⁄₂ teaspoon (2.5 ml) Synthrapol and hot water in the sink or another large pot. Transfer your suit from the dye bath to this mixture when the desired color is reached. Stir gently and let soak for 10 minutes.
8
Rinse your suit in warm running water. Rinse until the water runs clear. Smell your suit after it's been rinsed. If it smells like the dispersing agent, repeat the previous step. If it doesn't smell, wrap your suit in an old towel to remove any extra water and hang to dry.
- Place an old towel underneath your suit as it dries to protect the floor from any excess dye.
- The dye might bleed when you wash your suit for the first few times. To prevent damage to your clothing, wash the suit on its own.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Tie Dyeing Your Nylon Swimsuit

1
Soak your pre-cleaned swimsuit in warm water. This will loosen the fibers of your suit and allow the dye to be more effective. For the best results, choose a white or light colored nylon suit.
2
Cover your work area so the dye doesn't stain it. Use garbage bags, old towels, or an old tablecloth to protect surfaces. Work outside if possible.
3
Prepare your dye as directed by the manufacturer. Acid dye will give you the best results.^{[8]
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Research source} Choose one color for a monochrome design, or multiple colors for a more traditional tie dye look.
- Use rubber gloves to protect your skin while preparing the dye and while dyeing your swimsuit.
4
Create your tie dye pattern by gathering and twisting sections of your suit. Pull up small pieces of the fabric about 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.1 cm) apart and tie the material off with your rubber bands. Create interesting patterns by varying the amount of fabric you tie off and/or the spacing between each section.^{[9]
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5
Dip sections of the suit into the assorted colors you've selected. The longer you leave the suit in place, the darker the color will be. Rotate to a new section and a new color until the whole suit is covered with dye.
- Dyeing time can be anywhere between 5 and 20 minutes depending on the base color of the suit and how dark of a shade you want.
- When using multiple colors, expect some of the colors to run together at the edges and create a new color. This will add more interest and color to your suit and is preferable to leaving areas without dye coverage.
- If you are using only one color, you can use a large dye bath and fully submerge the suit once you've tied it off with rubber bands.
6
Take the rubber bands off and rinse the suit in hot water. When the water runs clear, wrap the suit in an old towel to remove any excess water and dye. Hang to dry.
- Place an old towel underneath the suit as it drys to catch any excess dye.
- The first few times the suit is washed, wash it alone in case it bleeds.

Warnings

When using chemical dyes, don't use utensils that you also use to prepare food.

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Protect your skin when handling dyes and dye agents by wearing rubber gloves.

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When using powdered dyes, wear a face mask to prevent inhalation of the substance.

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Keep all dyes and dye agents out of the reach of kids and pets.

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