Tintex Product FAQ

Tintex Fabric Dye Facts

Tintex Fabric Dye is for most washable material (know your fabric content). Our all-purpose dye is used on: cotton, linen, silk, nylon, acetate, rayon, wool and viscose. Please note: 100% polyester or 100% acrylic fabric are not suitable for our product. Fabric blends with a larger percent of dyeable fabric are dyeable (ex: 75% cotton, 25% polyester).

It is possible to dye non-fabric items such as: paper, feathers and unfinished wood products. Results may vary and some items may never be suitable for dyeing. Always test new material and/or items to be sure that the are compatible with Tintex. Test new techniques to get familiar with the process before starting. Proceed at your own risk dyeing unusual, expensive, stained or damaged material. 

• Use any washing machine and/or hand dyeing method for clothes, home décor items and non-fabric items (ex: paper, wood, feathers).
• Fabric may be lightened before dyeing with Colour Remover. After your fabric may become cream, ivory or off-white (results may vary). Light coloured fabrics will dye closer to box colour.
• Keep water temperatures very hot, use a kettle to boil water, use the stovetop method or heat water in the microwave (ex: 140°F water temperature is ideal). 
• Ensure that fabric is clean & damp before dyeing; results may vary on stained material. Tintex powder must be completely dissolved in hot water before adding fabric. Your dye solution always needs to be mixed thoroughly with all of the hot water in your dye bath. 
• The dye colour guide helps you make new custom colours; test colour and/or methods to get familiar with dyeing. You can adjust colour intensity by adding/more less dye as needed.
• Follow box or website instructions to dye fabric and other items. Make the dye solution by dissolving powder in hot water -- Only add hot water, there is no need to add anything to the dye solution (salt, dish soap, vinegar or soda ash do not need to be added).
• Tintex is safe for septic systems and can be put down the drain.
• Tintex is not food grade and is designed for fabric or crafts (ex: not for colouring hair). Always supervise small children while dyeing. See the SDS for more information. 

Colour Remover Facts

• Tintex Colour Remover is often used before dyeing to help improve the absorption of our dyes by lightening darker fabric to a creamy ivory or warm winter white colour. After fabric is lightened you may have success dyeing a lighter colour. For example, black or navy fabric won't suddenly turn snow-white, but could change enough for a totally new look.
• Colour Remover may not lighten prints on your fabric. Special finishes applied to the entire fabric (or  even just specific areas) can effect the lightening process; some fabrics may lighten more than others. There are few remote cases where colour may never be removed by any home process. 

Whitex Wonder Whitener Facts

• Whitex Wonder Whitener whitens and brightens all natural fabrics, blends and most synthetics; it is specially designed to maintain the shimmering whiteness of white fabrics made of nylon, acetate, rayon, silk, wool, linen & cotton. Whitex is not a bleach, it uses blue optical brighteners to make washable white fabric look brighter.  
• Whitex will brighten white fabrics or even enhance coloured fabrics, but it is not a 'white fabric dye' and won't change the colour of a dark fabric to pure white.

What should I know before I start using Tintex?

• Dyeing products are for fabric or crafts,(Tintex is not suitable to dye your hair with and is not food grade); supervise small children while dyeing.
• Tintex is not suitable for 100% polyester or 100% acrylic fabrics, but dyeing fabric blends is possible.
• Follow box or website directions; you don't need to add anything other then the dye powder to the hot water (no soda ash, dish soap, or vinegar is needed with our product). 

Can fabric dye be mixed to make different colours?

• Using less dye will produce lighter colours, using more dye will produce darker or brighter colours.
• To make a new colour sample, mix 1-3 dye colours, start with 1/4 tsp or 1/2 tsp each, completely dissolve in 1 cup of the hottest water possible for the fabric.
• Adjust the amount of dye used to match the desired colour. The Dye Colour Guide has more information on how to make many more colours using the core Tintex dye available now.

How do I make pastels or lighter colours?

Mix a colour sample, and completely dissolve 1/8 tsp, of dye(s) in 1 cup of the hottest water possible for the fabric.  Adjust the amount of dye used to match the desired colour and test new colours on like fabric before dyeing an entire garment. The Dye Colour Guide shows you how to create pastels using core dye colours.

Is there a way to dye a dark fabric white and do you have a white dye?

Colour Remover will lighten the colour of most dark fabrics to an off-white or light creamy colour.  We do not have a white dye, but Whitex uses optical blue brighteners to improve the brightness of white fabric so it looks like new.

Is an all-purpose dye safe to use and dispose of in my home?

Tintex is an all-purpose direct fabric dye that is safe for septic systems and can be put down the drain. Tintex is not food grade, so don’t consume dye and make sure to supervise children. 

What is the shelf life of dye?

Standard shelf life for Tintex is infinite, with proper storage you can use your dye for years. For best results do not expose unopened boxes to air or humidity. Always store powder dye in a cool and dry area. Extra 'already prepared' dye solution may be kept in clean, airtight, containers for later use. When reheating dye, always test to ensure that you are satisfied with the colour before using again.

Do you still make _____ or sell discontinued colours?

Only current Tintex products are available. Vintage or discontinued colours are not offered for sale here at this time.  Our online dye store stocks all available colours/products in a variety of sizes. The dye colour guide helps you mix new hues using available core Tintex colours. If needed, you could conduct an online search for vintage boxes.

Can I still order 5-pound Pails?

We recently permanently replaced our 5-pound pails with the Tintex Professional Line, and we no longer stock the old packaging. If you still want bulk Tintex products, but prefer the 5-pound amount there are different options:

• We still offer bulk 12-packs in every 55g Tintex product, free shipping is available depending on area/order amount
• Order two (or more) core colours in 10-pound pails and use the colour guide to mix new dyes similar to the available core colours (example: blue + yellow = green).

Are you part of the Australian company?

We are Canadian (our website is tintex.ca) and are a different company than the Australian Tintex. We arrange the distribution of 'Tintex Branded Products' throughout Canada, Puerto Rico, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. We only ship our dye products to Canadian or USA addresses. Our products are not available in Australia.