How to Tie Dye a Shirt Using Kool Aid

Last Updated: January 4, 2020

Looking for a fun way to spice up your wardrobe? Why not bring out your artistic side and tie dye a shirt with Kool-Aid? It's fun, simple, and cheap. Making tie dye shirts is a fun project that has great results at the end.

Steps

1
Put clean gloves on and change into old clothes. Cover your work area with newspaper. This can be quite messy.
2
Fill the cups or bowls up a little over halfway with cold water.

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3
Rip open the Kool-Aid packets of your desired color and pour it into the cups of water individually.
4
Stir with a spoon until the mixture has completely dissolved.
5
Pour a cap full of vinegar into each cup and stir it with a spoon.
6
Using rubber bands, pull and twist the T-shirt around to create a warped shape.
7
Dip rubber banded ends of t-shirt into desired colors. Also any desired parts of the shirt into the mix.
8
When finished dipping the t-shirt, place it into a plastic grocery bag and tie to make it airtight.
9
Allow t-shirt to sit in the bag for 24 hours before removing from bag.
10
Wash and dry the shirt.
11
Enjoy your new Kool-Aid tie dye shirt!

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Community Q&A

Question

Instead of washing it in the sink, could you wash it in the washer and dry it in the dryer?

Community Answer

No. Wash it in the sink with cool water because it is a gentler wash.
Question

What do I wash it with?

Community Answer

Washing it with cold salt water helps lessen the color bleed and not stain other stuff once its been washed a few times. It helps lock in the stain.
Question

Does it have to be sugar free or can it have sugar?

Community Answer

The regular packets of unsweetened Kool Aid work best. The sweetened mix would take a huge amount to get the same intensity of color and would get quite expensive.
Question

Can I use a cotton shirt for this?

Community Answer

Cotton shirts and shirts made out of natural fabrics are best, since they will absorb the most color.
Question

When washing the tie-dyed shirt, does the Kool Aid wash out and stain other clothes in the washing machine?

Community Answer

It could stain lighter fabrics. You should wash it alone the first time or two.
Question

Will it last and can we wash it in the washing machine?

Community Answer

It might fade over time. However, you can always re-do it and you can wash it in a washing machine.
Question

Is there any other way to make a Kool-Aid tie dye?

Community Answer

You could put a stencil on the shirt, like a Christmas cookie cutter. Put powered Kool Aid within the stencil, and then fill slightly with thickened water. Food coloring works, too.

Warnings

Do not pre-wash t-shirt with fabric softener or the Kool-Aid will not absorb well.

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Do not drink the Kool-Aid afterwards.

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Kool-Aid may stain furniture.

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This will get messy so this experiment is best done outside.

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