Rit Dye carpet gone wrong

[coop1985]

I decided to dye my carpet black.

I started by taking the carpet out and cleaning it with purple power and pressure washed it until the water came out clean.

I bought a rectangular tube from Walmart (55gal). Also bought 4 bottles of liquid black. Filled the tub up 1/2 way with the hottest tap water i had and mixed in the dye. I let it sit for two days.

I took it out and rinse the carpet to see that the carpet turned like a royal blue. WTF I decided to give it another shot. I went to another walmart and bought 4 bottles of liquid black, 4 packages of powder black and a bottle of liquid dark brown(rit website said to use it with a dark blue material, figured worth a shot).

I did the same thing, filled it 1/2 with hot tap water, mixed in all the dye. I put the carpet in an used some metal and couple 2x4 to hold the carpet down.

I left it for 24 hours, and pulled it out today and its the same dark blue that it was before. WTF I really want some black carpet.

Anyone have any idea of a way forward with this carpet?
Should i add some salt to the mix?
More black dye?

Anything to get rid of my blue carpet would be great

 

[bisoo369]

The same thing just happened to me, I ended up going over it with 2 cans of black fabric and vinyl spray paint and it's perfect. I did just spray paint on my last carpet and it worked just as well.

 

[BurrowZ]

You're really only filling it up to half, right? That's ~27.5 gallons of water to 4 bottles of dye? Are you sure you're mixing the stuff to the correct ratio? That's the only thing I can think of as to why it's coming out blue.

 

[coop1985]

thats what i am thinking that it is diluting it too much. I am going to try to add more black, alot more black and see if it helps

i just looked on the rit website. According to them you need one bottle per 3 gallons for true color. If my tub is holding 27.5 gallons i need almost 10 bottles. Maybe that is my problem, i guess its time to source some more dye

 

[Archer Fabrications]

I need to do this too, problem is i habent been able to find such dye at walmart in canada.

 

[lasthope05]

Just buy new black carpets. Some fabrics don't take dye because they are synthetic.

You guys should really read about the materials that will take the color vs blindly going into it.

 

[coop1985]

They also sell it at craft stores, if you cant find it at the store just order it online

i am going to give it one more shot and then i am just going to order new carpet.

 

[Archer Fabrications]

Where you ordering the carpet from, I'm currently gutted but carpet is still tan and in there for now. Was gonna take it out or dye it black and leave it .

 

[coop1985]

95-99 Mitsubishi Eclipse Carpet GST or GS Coupe Complete Kit 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999

 

[BurrowZ]

Just buy new black carpets. Some fabrics don't take dye because they are synthetic.

You guys should really read about the materials that will take the color vs blindly going into it.

I highly doubt this was "blindly going into it." They were more than likely following this write-up:

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-exterior-interior/395839-dying-your-carpet-rit-dye.html

And since that's proof it worked, why not try it?

If you're going to just buy a new black carpet, what's going to happen to your current carpet? Exactly, it's going to get tossed anyway (don't try telling me you're going to sell it cause that's a joke) so why not just try to dye it and save yourself money?

EDIT: Yeah, see above. $147 vs what? $30-$40ish? It's worth the extra money you're saving.

 

[coop1985]

i definitly did not go into blindly, i read the exact thread above before even trying it. I think my main problem was i had the dye to diluted. I am going to try one more time with about 10 bottles of dye

 

[Twinturbo120]

i definitly did not go into blindly, i read the exact thread above before even trying it. I think my main problem was i had the dye to diluted. I am going to try one more time with about 10 bottles of dye

Make sure to give us an update, would like to know how it turned out.

 

[lasthope05]

And if the 10 bottles don't work? Thats three tries so far. I would of just bought the carpet or spray painted it and not bother wasting my time.

 

[Cox Abele]

Keeping the dye in the proper concentration is the first step. Read the bottle more. In some cases, I've heard to help aid color saturation, you can add a box of baking soda to the solution and it helps open the fibers of the carpet. The hotter the water the better. Think of it like tie-dying. The dying vats are usually over a propane boiler to keep the liquid warm and aid in how the dye penetrates the fibers.

Google the baking soda or other additives.

Edit: I did a little homework for you. Google "Dye fixer." If you are using baking soda, the key is to get the solutions temperature hot enough (~122*) to turn the baking soda to soda ash. You may be able to use washing soda however. Again, do your homework.

 

[91-GS]

In case you don't have a way of keeping almost 30 gallons of water hot enough for soda to transform you can always boil a smaller amount of water/soda separately, then add it to the mix. Doing that will also bring up temperature in the tub.

 

[dsmspickdad]

The carpet cannot be dyed the fiber is not nylon. Most automotive carpet is made from polypropylene.

 

[Archer Fabrications]

The carpet cannot be dyed the fiber is not nylon. Most automotive carpet is made from polypropylene.

Sooo why have others dyed with success then?

 

[coop1985]

And if the 10 bottles don't work? Thats three tries so far. I would of just bought the carpet or spray painted it and not bother wasting my time.

ill buy more dye before i spray paint my carpet. Had a buddy that spray painted his carpet before and looked like crap.

If the last try doesnt work, then i will order new carpet

 

[lewishamilton]

Any updates?

 

[Blurred Talon]

I used 8 bottles of liquid black and the secret weapon, salt!
Salt will help the dye seep into the carpet. I just bought a regular size thing of table salt and dumped it in.

 

[jakelandry]

I did mine with rit dye. Mixed it to twice the concentration the bottle recommended and used lots of salt. MINE took 3 weeks before it was black enough for my satisfaction though.

 

[lewishamilton]

I did mine with rit dye. Mixed it to twice the concentration the bottle recommended and used lots of salt. MINE took 3 weeks before it was black enough for my satisfaction though.

It was sitting in the dye for 3 weeks???? I wanted to dye my carpet and spray the bottom panels of my black interior to match the top, but thread this is making me rethink.

 

[miguelmcv]

I dye my gray carpet black and it came almost pitch black,.

I used only 4 battles of liquid dye and use the same method as the OP did, But the difference at the end was that, I just took it out of the bucket and put it to dry all wet in the sun, I never wash it off with water or anything, I just took it out like that,,,......
Before it was dry completely, I then use another black battle of dye and used a spray can and spray it all over the carpet and let it dry completely (under the sun).

I will post some pics of the carpet.

When I bought my car, I send it to get washed and they spray paint on the carpet where the dirt remained and I can tell where it was painted, because it leaves a hard finish, It looks clean but once you touch it with your hand, you can feel the roughness, it last for several weeks and the paint starts to come off once you step on it.

I would never paint the carpet with a spray can paint.

 

[force_feed]

I did the write up on how to dye your carpet.

I never washed the carpet after pulling it out of the dye. I knew it would fade the color more than I wanted.

After letting it dry completely and putting in in the car, I haven't had any issues with the color coming off on my hands or anything while working under the dash.

I've also accumulated some water on the floor board that didn't turn black from the dye washing out.

 

[DSMFalcon1]

I dyed my entire interior with VHT Vinyl dye spray. It did a great job including the carpet. I replaced the head liner and seats. When the seats get faded I just spray them down to give them a good dark look again.