How to Wash Tie-Dye & Keep It Looking Amazing

So you bought an amazing piece of tie-dye... now how the heck do you wash it without ruining it?

We get this question ALL THE TIME at Love on Haight.

The good news is that good tie-dye is actually pretty easy to take care of. And if you treat it right, your favorite tie-dye can stay bright and beautiful for years.

After more than 30 years of tie-dye on Haight Street, here are our best tips!

First Things First: You CAN Wash Your Tie-Dye!

People sometimes get nervous that their beautiful new tie-dye is going to turn their entire washing machine rainbow.

Don't panic!

A properly dyed and washed-out piece of tie-dye should be ready to wear and wash. At Love on Haight, our artists know what they're doing.

That said, we always recommend washing your tie-dye with cold water. Cold water is gentler on both the dye and the fabric and will help keep those colors looking amazing longer.

Wash Your Tie-Dye in Cold Water

This is the big one.

Cold water. Cold water. Cold water.

Use a gentle detergent and wash with similar colors, especially the first few times.

You don't need anything fancy. Just treat your tie-dye like the wearable art that it is.

And please... NO BLEACH!

Unless, of course, you're trying to make a completely different piece of tie-dye. 😂

We Recommend Hang Drying

Whenever possible, we recommend hang drying your tie-dye.

Dryers are convenient, but heat is hard on clothing over time. Hang drying helps preserve the fabric, the fit and those gorgeous colors.

Does that mean your tie-dye can NEVER go in the dryer?

No.

But if you want your favorite piece to live a long, colorful life, give it a break from all that heat.

Tie-Dye Rayon: ALWAYS Hang Dry!

This one deserves its own section because rayon is different.

If your tie-dye is rayon, HANG DRY IT.

Rayon can shrink and change shape with heat, so don't throw your beautiful rayon dress, skirt, kimono or pants into a hot dryer and hope for the best.

Wash it gently in cold water and hang it to dry.

Your rayon will thank you.

What About Bamboo Tie-Dye?

Bamboo is another fabric we use and love at Love on Haight.

For bamboo clothing, we still generally recommend hang drying because it helps extend the life of the garment.

BUT... there is an exception.

If you have a pair of bamboo pants, leggings or another bamboo piece that you like to stay nice and snug, a little dryer time can actually help bring the fabric back in.

So if your bamboo pants start feeling a little looser after wearing them, the dryer can be your friend.

If you like the way they fit already? Hang dry them.

Treat Your Tie-Dye Like Wearable Art

That's really the secret.

A lot of the tie-dye at Love on Haight isn't just clothing. It has been individually dyed by an artist who chose the colors, created the pattern and transformed a blank garment into something completely unique.

No two pieces are exactly alike.

So take care of it!

Our simple tie-dye care rules:

• Wash in cold water

• Use a gentle detergent

• Wash with similar colors

• Never use bleach

• Hang dry whenever possible

• Always hang dry rayon

• For bamboo, hang dry unless you want a little heat to help keep the garment snug

That's it.

Tie-dye isn't supposed to be precious. It's supposed to be worn, danced in, traveled in, lived in and loved.

Take care of it, wear the hell out of it, and keep San Francisco colorful!

Peace, Love & Tie-Dye,
Love on Haight 🌈

Keeping Haight-Ashbury colorful since 1992.