Club Obi Wan

Okay, at one point I really wanted to redye my shirt to a more appropriate color, but as I wore it more and more (actually washed it more and more), I realized it was slowly fading. I no longer wanted to do the redye. Somehow yesterday when I was doing a load of whites, it got mixed in. When I pulled it out, I was a little nervous, but all looked fine. Then as I hung it up, I saw a pink blotch on it... somehow it must have gotten hit with a straight shot of bleach. Prompt state of distraught sets in. I realize that the only way I can fix this is to search COW, find the redye process and go to town on it.

Well, the search for RIT spanned a half dozen stores (note for others, not all stores stock RIT in the same section of the store.... some stock it in with laundry detergent and others stock it with the sewing supplies). Also, I wound up buying the Tan, Pearl Grey and Color Remover at three different stores (it doesn't seem to be well stocked aywhere).

Now I'm finally back home and I'm ready to start the stove top process. I've got a pot of water on the stove and I'm reading the directions. DO NOT USE AN ALUMINUM OR NON-STICK POT. Well, I'm out of luck here... seems every pot I own falls into one of these two categories. I reluctantly decide to go with the washing machine method.

I set the machine on small load and and add the recommended two boxes of color remover for the stove top method. After at least two hours of running to the machine to keep it in the agitate cycle, I finally let it finish its course. This shirt is looking mighty pink at this point.

I now run it through with bleach and detergent to clean it up so I can see the results. Once that is done, I pull it out and it is a beautiful shade of peach. Extreme nervousness sets in. I thought it stunk when there was a spot on the shirt, but now I've got this peach colored shirt.

I reread the directions on the box and see that the stove top recommendation is one box of color remover and small machine load is two boxes.... Well the stove top method listed on Dalexs's site is two boxes. So I figure I should have had four for the machine method.... when I get home from work tonight, I'll be going to the store and picking up some more color remover and starting the process over. I hope it cleans it up this time.

Further status to follow. Wish me luck.

Mike

Is it still peach colored after it has been thoroughly rinsed and dried?

The shirt has been completely rinsed and dried and she's still peachy. I don't think there was enough Color Remover for the amount of water that the washer used. I'll be redoing the color removing process tonight. Since the shirt is now peach, I have not started the redye process.

Mike

FWIW I have never tried the washing machine method for actually removing the coor. Some people here have, but I think the results have usually been disapointing.

You may be better off running off to kmart and buying a stainless steel pot...

I think the main problem with the washer is the water just doesn't get hot enough to do a thorough job. On the stove, you simmer the shirt so it is cooking pretty good.

Good Luck

Dalexs

I think I might just have to buy a pot today when I buy more color remover.

Thanks for the information.

Mike

Well, on the lighter side (groan) at least we know what to do if we want a peach colored NH shirt.

Since the shirt is presumeably NOT the color you want, why not just soak it in bleach and water for a few minutes? What's the worst that can happen besides the material becoming weak? I would get a plactic bucket and try the color remover and if that didn't work then I'd try the bleach. As a last resort (prior to buying a new shirt) I'd dye it to a color that is close to the movie shirt! Good luck!

Bleach does some unpredictable things sometimes. The RIT Color Remover is made for taking color from materials. I had an L.L. Bean shirt disintegrate on me and they are a bit tougher than the NH's. If you do it, check frequently.

Yeah, what Rick said. I know some people here have done the soak in bleach only and the shirts were fine until they washed them a few times.
Then they basically fell apart at the seems.

Okay, so it's been in the pot on the stove for about half an hour or so and it is now a nice shade of white. I took some pictures of it right before I stuck it in the pot. Got it lying out next to my still in package MBA. Once the whole thing is done, I'll post some pics.

Mike

Dalexs, you're an absolute genius. I haven't seen the finished product yet, but I just threw it into the dryer. It is a nice shade of grey and I'm looking forward to see it dry.

I'll be grabbing it out of the dryer right before I head to the airport, so I won't have time to post pics before I leave, but I'll be sure to post pics when I get back at the end of next week.

Once again, Dalexs, you're a genius. Thanks for the experiments.

Mike

Where did you get RIT dye remover anyway?!!!
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It's usually available at the same place the dye is.

BTW floatinjoe, How did the shirt come out when it was finally done?

Dalexs

The shirt came out great... I'll try and post some pictures this weekend.

Thanks for doing all the leg work on this project.

Mike