How to Bleach Tie Dye a Shirt

A bleach tie dye shirt is a unique and unexpected way to personalize your clothing. Using bleach to tie dye a shirt or sweatshirt creates an unpredictable pattern that is a surprise to see once complete!

Dark colored t-shirts are great to tie dye with bleach. Black shirts often are turned orange with bleach. Other types of dark shirts, such as red or blue, will have different results.

You can bleach dye a new shirt, or upcycle a shirt that you already own.

This is a great project for shirts that might have stains on them. You don’t have to throw out the shirt, just bleach tie dye it! You will never see the stains!

Another great way to reuse clothes is spray bleaching shirts.

As with any bleach DIY project, it is important to do this in a well ventilated area, preferably outdoors. Protect your skin, your clothes and any items or surfaces that you are using from the bleach.

DIY Bleach Tie Dye Shirt

Materials

• Black or dark colored T-shirt

• Rubber bands

• Bleach

• Water

Directions

Step 1

Flatten the shirt on a flat surface. Then pinch a piece of the fabric in the center of the shirt inbetween your fingers.

Twist the fabric of the t-shirt in a circular fashion to form a spiral. Continue twisting until a tight disk forms.

Step 2

After you have twisted the t-shirt into a big spiral, wrap rubber bands around the spiral disk tightly to hold it together.

Step 3

Combine one part bleach with one part water in a bowl or bucket. Stir together.

Wearing protective gloves, place the shirt in the bleach and submerge it under the water.

Allow the shirt to soak in the bleach for a minute or two, then remove it from the water.

Step 4

Let the shirt sit until it reaches the desired color. The longer you allow the bleach to sit on the fabric, you will find different colors being created.

Keep in mind that black t-shirts usually turn a shade of orange when being bleached.

Once you like the color, remove the rubber bands (be sure you are wearing your protective gloves). Thoroughly rinse the bleach out of the shirt.

Step 5

Lay the flat shirt to air dry. Keep in mind that bleach residue on the shirt could bleach the surface.

After the shirt has dried, wash it by itself in a normal wash cycle.

Once the shirt has been washed on its own, it is safe to add to your regular laundry since the bleach residue will have been washed out.