Sweet Paul Overdyed Rug

February 18 2016

Overdyed rugs are really hot right now but can often cost a pretty penny. Because of this, our friend Sweet Paul decided to overdye one himself! The dye process was super simple. The lighter the rug, the better the result!

Supplies
  • Cotton/Wool/Silk Area Rug
  • All-Purpose Dye (He Used Aquamarine)
  • Scotchguard
  • Plastic Tarp
  • Garden Hose
  • Spray Bottle
Time
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Difficulty
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Instructions
  1. Vacuum the rug.
  2. Wet the carpet and place it outside on a tarp.
  3. Wearing rubber gloves, mix 1/2 cup of Rit All-Purpose Liquid Dye with 2 cups of very hot (almost boiling) water. Stir well.
  4. Pour dye solution into a spray bottle or use a Preval spray product from our online store.
  5. Use a pot holder mitt if bottle is too hot to handle.
  6. To achieve consistent results, make sure the dye stays hot. This is especially an issue if you are doing a large project. Dye can be reheated in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes.
  7. Spray dye on carpet until you have the desired color. This takes time and quite a lot of dye. When more dye is needed, mix a new solution using the same dye to water ratio.
  8. Optional: After spraying dye, spray rug with Rit ColorStay Dye Fixative.  This will help to enhance the color and reduce bleeding.
  9. Rinse well. Use a hose until the water that drains off the carpet is completely clear of dye.
  10. Hang to dry. Or, let rug set in the sunshine for a few hours or overnight before rinsing.
  11. Spray with Scotchguard or similar product once dry.
  12. Use with a protective rug mat. Dye could stain floor if rug gets wet and dye was not rinsed out thoroughly. 
  13. Important Note: It’s best to do this with an inexpensive area rug rather than an expensive heirloom one as spraying on dye can create uneven patches of color and color remover cannot be used effectively to change this. This technique should not be used for wall-to-wall carpeting.
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