Reviving Worn Black Dress Pants with Fabric Dye
When black dress pants lose their deep shade from repeated laundering and wearing, you can restore them without buying replacements. The task requires only basic supplies and a modest amount of time, making it a practical alternative to shopping for a new pair.
By Charlie Watson5 steps
Use dye to get your important black pants looking new again.
Repeated washing and wearing causes black pants to lose their color over time. If your go-to dress pants have accompanied you to parties, the office, and special events, they might be due for a refresh. Returning them to a rich, dark shade is a relatively fast and low-cost task, and it means you can skip a trip to the store for a replacement pair. Your budget benefits, and you can feel confident in your pants again quickly.
Step 1
Soak the pants in warm water using either a sink or a tub. After they are wet, wring them to eliminate the extra water.
Step 2
Put 3 gallons of hot water into a bucket or sink, then mix in either one packet of powdered dye or half a bottle of liquid dye. Keep gloves on your hands throughout to avoid discoloring your skin. Should your sink be made of fiberglass or plastic, a bucket is the better choice because dye leaves stains on those materials.
Step 3
Submerge the pants in the dye bath and agitate them using tongs or a large metal spoon. Stir them every five minutes, and allow them to remain in the dye for as long as 30 minutes, with the exact time depending on how light the faded black had become.
Step 4
Drain the bucket and take the pants out. Rinse them under warm water in the tub or sink, then change to cool water. Continue rinsing until the water coming off them is clear.
Step 5
Launder the pants with a gentle detergent on the delicate cycle, using a warm or cool temperature setting. Once the cycle finishes, hang the pants up and let them dry in the air.
