Wednesday, January 27, 2010

How I updated my wardrobe! With updated information!

***Update Below***

Since I survived the 80's and faded jeans the first time I feel it isn't prudent for me to repeat the trend again in my life. I stick to dark jeans these days and I always think it is a shame when my jeans are still in great shape but are faded to the point I just don't want to wear them anymore.

The other day I was in the dollar store buying buttons for the Suburban Prince's work shirts and while I was in line at the cash desk I saw a rack of boxes of fabric dye. Hmmmm. A light bulb went on and I added a package of dye to my buttons, got checked out and went home to dig out my faded jeans.




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It worked! It was so easy and now I have a 'brand new' pair of jeans! I have a few more pairs of jeans that are faded so I will pick up more dye and get them done too! Talk about shopping in my closet! Between this and my new seamstress my wardrobe is becoming very wearable these days!

***Update***

With all of the response to this I realised I should explain how I did this! We have a front loading washer so I just poured the powder in, put the jeans in, closed the door and ran the machine on HOT. No soap! No fabric softener!

Once the machine was finished going through the cycles I popped the jeans in the dryer on HOT until they were dry.

I put soap and lots of bleach in the washer and ran it. When it was finished I ran an extra cycle of just hot water to make sure everything was rinsed out. Yes it is a number of cycles but if you were to dye a few pairs of jeans at once it makes it worth it.

I plan to make sure the next couple of loads are very dark clothes - navy blue, black etc so the machine should be back to normal after that should there be any dye residue still in it.

Don't forget to enter my Stationary Giveaway!


Have a fabulous day!

29 comments:

KDot said...

That's a really good idea!

Unknown said...

Great idea! - so going to try this! Thanks

Anonymous said...

What a great idea!! I am going to try this!

jules said...

I tried this a few years ago and they turned a really ugly color. I must have used the wrong color!!

Leah said...

I will definitely give this a try...my black jeans are becoming gray from too much wear. I think I'll dye them black again. Thanks for the tip. xoxo

Kelly @ turned UP to ELEVEN! said...

You're SO savvy and I love it! ox

Black Labs and Lilly said...

Such a great idea!!!! I love dark jeans, darker the better!

Miss to Mrs said...

This is a great idea! I'm trying this. I'm all about saving money these days.

Jessica said...

Great idea!!

Wendy said...

Nice work! Just don't forget that you can't wash those with anything else now, or all your other stuff will be dyed blue too!! I had to learn that one the hard way...

Suburban Princess said...

Knitwit - I only wash darks with darks so it shouldn't be a problem. But yes, I would assume any dark clothing would dye lighter clothing in the wash.

Just Add Walter said...

wow, you are living up to the name of the suburban princess for sure... what a great idea! I am thinking of stealing it and trying this myself!

Monkey Mae said...

Awesome tip. I have a pair of dark jeans that are starting to look quite faded.

Confessions Of A Domestic Goddess said...

How clever!! I'm not nearly as crafty as you, so I doubt I'll be trying this...but kudos to you for being so smart!

xoxo!

Suburban Princess said...

Domestic Goddess - It was nothing to do with being crafty really - I put the dye and the jeans and ran the washer - easy peasy!

Sherrie said...

You are so clever! I would like to state for the record that I never fell prey to the hideousness that was the acid washed jeans phase! lol

Nikosmommy said...

awesome resourcefulness!!

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Think of all the money that you can save and spend on...shoes? or whatever makes your heart flutter!

Alexis AKA MOM said...

No way I never would have thought they would have one that really worked. I'll have to check out mine next time I go there. My dark jeans are looking a little faded. Thanks for the great idea :)

Lipstick said...

now that is just cool! I have bought dye before and been too scared to use it!

Red Lipstick said...

Great idea! I love the dark jeans right now and have a couple of pair that need refreshing. I may take them to the laundremat, however, I'm afraid to dye in my machine!

Bridget said...

That's a great idea!! Make sure you wash them separately for a little - we've had some tintex disasters here before :)

Beth Dunn said...

You are fab
xoxo
SC

Erin said...

I'm literally ecstatic you posted about this! I have a pair of really cute jeans I bought online a while back that I thought were a lot darker than they actually are.. and since they were on clearance, I couldn't return them. I've been pissed about it ever since. I never even thought to dye them, but I'm totally going to do it. Thanks!!

Unknown said...

If you can just dump it in the washer, I'm game for a try ;)

Sierra said...

This is such a fabulous idea - I will definitely check it out, I like how your jeans turned out!

Preppy Pink Crocodile said...

Great idea!!

melissa said...

Yes ... wonderful idea!! Thanks for sharing your 'how to'

Unknown said...

I can't stand for my black things to fade, so I last winter I redyed everything! Never thought of doing jeans.