Dyeing clothes with matcha is possible, but it requires careful handling to prevent stains. Matcha, a type of green tea, contains leaf particles that can stain clothing when spilled.
The staining effect is more pronounced than with other teas due to the higher concentration of leaf material in matcha.
To dye clothes with matcha, you can use a mordant dyeing method, which involves treating the fabric with a metal salt solution before applying the matcha solution. The mordant helps to fix the dye to the fabric, improving colorfastness and washability.
This method has been used successfully with human hair tresses, demonstrating the potential for matcha dyeing on various fabrics.
When dyeing cotton, silk, linen, or wool fabrics with tea, it is essential to use natural fibers as synthetic fabrics like polyester will not absorb the dye.
To achieve the best results, follow these steps:
- Prepare a matcha solution by mixing matcha powder with water, creating a 1 wt% matcha solution, which contains about 0.3 wt% polyphenols.
- Treat the fabric with a metal salt solution, such as iron(II)-lactate, for 30 minutes.
- Rinse the fabric under running deionized water and dry it with a hair dryer at a defined distance and temperature (T = 80 ± 5 °C; d = 10 cm).
- Apply the matcha solution to the fabric, ensuring even coverage.
- Rinse the fabric under running deionized water and wash it with a commercially available shampoo to assess the wash fastness of the color.
Remember that matcha stains clothing, so it is essential to handle the dyeing process carefully to prevent stains on the fabric.
Citations:
[1] https://nioteas.com/blogs/matcha/does-matcha-stain-clothes
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7914801/
[3] https://www.worldteanews.com/innovation/green-tea-extract-game-changer-natural-dyes-and-textile-industry
[4] https://www.wikihow.com/Dye-Fabric-With-Tea
[5] https://stixasia.com/guide-to-matcha-unveiling-different-techniques-grades-and-its-making-process/
[6] https://medcraveonline.com/JTEFT/low-temperature-optimized-dyeing-of-cotton-wool-and-silk-with-extract-of-camellia-sinensis-tea-leaves.html
[7] https://piperandleaf.com/blogs/blog/dye-fabric-with-tea
[8] https://lacreativemama.com/best-way-dye-fabric-with-tea/
[9] https://domatcha.ca/blogs/blog-recipes/dye-your-easter-eggs-with-matcha
[10] https://createwhimsy.com/projects/how-to-dye-fabric-with-tea/
[11] https://therosemarywreath.com/how-to-tea-dye-fabric-easily-and-without-fail/
[12] https://lacreativemama.com/how-to-make-natural-green-dye/
[13] https://threadsmonthly.com/tea-dye/
[14] https://losangelesapparel.net/products/the-1801-mineral-wash
[15] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rGtSMkLwbg
[16] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ5TfiTYpaI
[17] https://woodlarkblog.com/natural-dyeing-with-tea/
[18] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFhOwBJZ6QI
[19] https://commons.materiom.org/data-commons/recipe/649c36228e0f06dcab0b7d5d
[20] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jXlG6eol3w
