Beautiful Color Dyes Don’t Have to Be Poisons – Natural Eco-Friendly Dyes Explained

Fabric dyes are readily available in any craft store, and in most grocery and discount stores. They’re convenient and easy to use, whether you’re tie dyeing a t-shirt or dyeing your curtains to match your new furniture. But did you know that they can be quite dangerous?

Most dyes today are made from chemicals. They usually contain ingredients such as pigments and soaps. Some even contain poisonous ingredients such as corrosive alkali, which can cause acute health problems if inhaled or swallowed. Some types of synthetic dyes are known to cause allergic reactions in some individuals, and some have even been linked to cancer. And the factories that make such dyes often create huge amounts of pollution.

All of this is enough to make one want to give up dyeing fabrics, and possibly even stop wearing anything that has been dyed. But that’s not necessary. There are natural dyes available that have little or no impact on our health and the environment. These dyes have many advantages, including:

* They are made from renewable materials. Most are derived from plants, which grow back or can be replanted. This means that the impact on the environment is minimal.

* Natural dyes are less likely to cause an allergic reaction. It is certainly possible to be allergic to natural products, but chemical dyes are notorious for causing rashes and other undesirable effects.

* Natural dyes are non-carcinogenic. You don’t have to worry about breathing in the fumes from them. You will need to wear gloves when working with them, but only to keep your hands from being dyed!

* The wastes produced when making natural dyes are not harmful to the environment. These materials existed in nature to start with, so they do not create the devastating effects that chemical wastes do.

* Natural dyes have subtle variations that add character to the finished product. Synthetic dyes, on the other hand, are produced to be as uniform as possible.

Most of the dyes you find in stores are synthetic chemical dyes. But more natural alternatives have become available in recent years. And as more people learn of the benefits of natural dyes, they should become more readily available.

It’s also possible to make your own natural dyes. It takes time and some practice, but it’s really not that difficult. You can make vibrant color dyes using flowers, berries, bark and more. All you have to do is put the material in water and simmer for about an hour. Strain out the solids, and your dye is ready to use. You’ll need to use a color fixative, but these are easily made with salt or vinegar and water.

Natural dyes are much safer than the chemical ones we’ve become accustomed to. And they come in a variety of beautiful colors. They’re easy to use, and to make if you choose to do so.

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