Can i use a front loading washing machine to dye fabrics in?

Question

Rit dye publishes a technique of using a washing machine to dye fabric in, but I have a front-loader! Can I still safely use it for this purpose?

Answer 1

It is difficult to use a front loader for dying garments and fabrics.  Here is why.  In a top loader the garment can be fully submerged in the dye bath AFTER you have put the dye in, filled the drum with water and agitated to fully mix the dye and water together.  That agitation is essential because if you don't do it you can get blotches of dye that didn't fully integrate into the water on your fabric or garment.  Also, top loaders enable you to pull the garment or fabric out during the process to rearrange and remove wrinkles or where it has balled up and not being dyed.  The front loader doesn't enable you to fill and mix the dye prior to dying because when you open the door to insert the item to be dyed, the water will come out all over your floor.  Plus, it becomes a matter of trust that the agitation will work out all of the wrinkles and evenly distribute the dye because you cannot open the door to check.  I dye a lot of garments and fabrics and really don't recommend using a front loader because I haven't been happy with the results.  You can use the stove top method or if you have a laundry tub sink, use that with the hot water Rit method or get the cold bath dye.  In both cases, you have the control you need to get good results.

Answer 2

you can do it in your home or go to a Laundromat.