How to Dye a Rug With Rit

Don't throw away stained or bleached rugs. Buy a few boxes of Rit and dye it. Rit Dye was first used in 1917, but it wasn't until the 1950s that it was regularly used to dye rugs. Fast forward to the year 2011 when the words repurposing and recycling are used on an almost daily basis. Show you understand the importance of leaving a small carbon imprint while saving both money and time by dying damaged rugs instead of disposing of them.

Revive faded colors with dye.

Step 1

Adjust the water temperature in the washer to "Hot" with a "Cold" rinse, set the load size to "Medium" for an area rug and "Large" for throw rug. Set the load cycle to "Regular" or "Cotton." Turn the washer on.

Step 2

Pre-mix the dye with hot water. For a throw rug that weighs up to six pounds, pour two bottles of Rit Dye into 2 cups hot water and stir. Or mix four packets of Rid Dye with 2 cups hot water. To dye an area rug mix 1 1/2 bottles or 3 packets of Rit Dye with 2 cups hot water.

Step 3

Pour the pre-mixed dye in the hot-water-filled wash machine.

Step 4

Completely wet the rug with hot water.

Step 5

Place the wet rug in the washer and close the lid. The rug must be in the dye for 30 minutes before entering the rinse cycle. Reset the load cycle, if needed, to ensure the rug is in the dye for the correct length of time.

Step 6

Rinse the dyed rug in cold water until the water is clear. Reset the washer as many times as necessary to remove the excess dye from the rug.

Step 7

Wash the dyed rug with a mild laundry detergent to ensure any excess dye is removed from the rug.

Step 8

Dry the rug in the dryer or hang it outside to air dry.