The appearance of stains after dyeing occurs from time to time. There are various types of stains and therefore different causes. The most common causes are:

1. The fabric is new and little washed
2. The fabric is old and / or used intensively
3. The washing machine was too full
4. Not enough stirred
5. The washing machine drains the residual water before the washing program starts

Cause 1: The fabric is new and little washed
New fabric and clothing are usually processed with products to make the fabric stiffer, but water and dirt-repellent coatings and impregnation agents are also widely used in the production of fabrics. These products prevent the fabric dye from being properly and evenly absorbed. Most of the added protective products disappear after a few washes. Washed clothing therefore feels less stiff and water droplets no longer remain on the fabric, but penetrate into the fabric. New, or not yet often washed, fabric must therefore first be thoroughly clean and pure. We have good experience with the use of a dishwasher tablet instead of normal detergent. A dishwasher tablet cleans more powerfully than regular detergent. For very delicate fabrics such as silk or Kashmir, a dishwasher tablet is too powerful and will affect the fabric too much. A dishwasher tablet is safe to use for cotton or nylon.

Cause 2: The fabric is old and / or heavily used
Old curtains, pillows or clothing can usually be painted fine. However, if the fabric is not completely clean, stains may appear after dyeing. Fat residues are a common cause. Remains of grease stains are sometimes no longer visible to the eye, but are still present in the fabric. This can happen especially if the fabric has only been washed at a low temperature. Sun cream or make-up can also cause stains that are difficult to clean. Before dyeing, it is important to wash the fabric well at the highest temperature allowed for the fabric and with a good cleaning detergent. Using dishwasher detergent instead of regular detergent is a good alternative if the fabric is not too delicate (such as silk and Kashmir). Most other fabrics can be safely washed with a dishwasher tablet.

Cause 3: The washing machine was too full
If the stains show fairly sharp separations with large differences between light and dark, such as creased fabric, an overloaded washing machine is a possible cause. A washing machine may be filled to a maximum of 2/3 and the laundry must be placed loose in the washing machine. If the amount of fabric is too much, the water can no longer distribute evenly. This can cause color differences or spots. So make sure that the washing machine is big enough for the amount of fabric you want to dye at once.

Cause 4: Not stirred enough
When dyeing by hand, it is important to stir regularly and firmly. If the water with the dissolved fabric dye cannot spread evenly in the fabric, this will lead to stains and color differences. As soon as you put the fabric in the dye bath, it is important to stir well. If after 5 to 10 minutes the paint has spread well, you can then stir for another 1-2 minutes every 15 minutes. If necessary, you can stir less often after a few hours and let the color soak in overnight.

Cause 5: The washing machine drains the residual water before the washing program starts
If there are some deeply tested stains and otherwise only a very light result and you have poured the fabric dye directly into the drum, the cause may be in your washing machine. Some washing machine types start a washing program by draining residual water from previous washing cycles. You can also hear this pumping out as soon as you switch on the washing machine. If this is the case, this could be the reason that most of the fabric dye has disappeared before dyeing started.