Asked on Apr 20, 2014

Can you dye synthetic lace curtains?

GR
by GR
Hi, I'm wondering if any of you thrifty and creative people out there have successfully dyed lace curtains? I have a pair of Ikea Alvine Spets polyester lace curtains that I would like to dye grey. After doing some research, which mostly suggested that the dye wouldn't take on synthetic lace, I came across a post on how to dip dye the very same curtains for an ombre effect. She used Dylon hand dye in a bucket but I'm not sure how that would work for the whole curtain. I also wondered about using black machine dye, which might turn out grey if it didn't take very well. Any ideas please?
  6 answers
  • Margie Margie on Apr 20, 2014
    i dyed white poly curtains..pink..they look fabulous..look up on line for permanent dye that will adhere to polyester. i can;t remember the name right now..it;s an ACID DYE..hope this helps...look at several sites as some prices are hi..i pd around $3-4.oo....i;d use it again, in a heartbeat..also dyed a flogoti(SP) rug the same color
  • Val Val on Apr 21, 2014
    Hi Gerry. Margie is right. There is a dye specifically made for synthetic fabrics. I know that a regular dye such as Rit will not work because synthetics just don't absorb color the way natural fibers do (I tried it once). Whatever you use, it would be great to see how it turns out. Val
  • Sonya Thompson Sonya Thompson on Apr 21, 2014
    I have dyed all types of curtains, yeah synthetic doesn't suck up the color as well as the other types of fabric, but it does work. I buy a lot of curtains from thrift stores and do not like the color so dye it the color I like. But I know it can be done, I would even try tye dye trying the tumble dry brand where you can spray your tye dye, then throw it in the dryer on high for 30 minutes it works great just love it. I hope this helps and let us know how things go.
  • Margie Margie on Apr 21, 2014
    i looked it up for you gerry.. JACQUARD ACID DYE...they have lotz of colors to choice from...i am totally sold on it...i noticed you were from the uk..go to amozon,uk. .you can order it there..good luck
    • GR GR on Apr 21, 2014
      @Margie Thanks very much Margie, I will definitely try Amazon. I really struggle to get some of the brilliant products you have in the States so fingers crossed! I'll let you know how it turns out...
  • Margie Margie on Apr 21, 2014
    i bought a bright hot pink to do nylon/poly curtains..ended up being a very soft pink...so if you want grey..you might like to experiment w/ black first...the price is cheap so you could buy a few colors...sure hope it works..post pics AFTER if you can
    • GR GR on Apr 21, 2014
      @Margie I did wonder about using the washing machine dye in black because I can pick that up really easily and it doesn't cost much but it might not take at all or just look grubby! They say on the website NOT suitable for polyester but then they say that for the hand dye too and the ombre effect curtains posted on hometalk used that and are very dark at the bottom. Mind you she never said anything about washing them so maybe it doesn't last...I will definitely post pics if I get a result!!
  • Bobbie McCord Bobbie McCord on Feb 04, 2015
    @GR, I've been looking into dying a polyester bath mat and found a company called Dharma Trading (www.dharmatrading.com). They have dyes to color just about anything, and a lot of color choices. I haven't ordered/dyed my mat yet but this company comes highly recommended by my neighbor that has a tie dying business. Might be something worth looking in to.