{"id":2242,"date":"2025-07-02T17:41:32","date_gmt":"2025-07-02T17:41:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/maggieinthewoods.com\/?p=2242"},"modified":"2025-07-03T10:47:13","modified_gmt":"2025-07-03T10:47:13","slug":"natural-dyes-everyday-ingredients","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maggieinthewoods.com\/hr\/natural-dyes-everyday-ingredients\/","title":{"rendered":"Otkrij tajnu zapanjuju\u0107ih prirodnih boja koriste\u0107i svakodnevne sastojke"},"content":{"rendered":"

Natural dyeing is both science and art, in my experience. For years now I have been wowed with how many eco-friendly dyeing options there are out there. Your imagination and plants at your disposal are your only limits. But it doesn\u2019t have to be complicated and you can start with what you already have at home, dear reader. So consider this little intro as a beginner friendly plant dyeing tutorial or as I like to call it – dye-torial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Use Natural Dyes? – Natural vs. Synthetic<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natural, or plant dyes in this case, are made by cooking plants. It’s as simple as that. All right, there are a few more steps before and after, but it’s not any more complicated than making tomato soup. I don’t make tomato soup that often and you might not either, but you get the gist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, they are biodegradable, meaning they won’t contribute to pollution when discarded – they decompose on their own. Let’s look into some more benefits of making your own dyes from everyday household ingredients:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Reducing Waste:<\/strong> Instead of throwing peels away, you can reuse them to create something new and beautiful. Not many people have the conditions to compost these days, so this makes sense to me. The same goes for upcycling clothing items you already have or from second-hand shops – and give the item a new and beautiful life. So much clothing is thrown away each year – 92 million tons end up in landfills. Wait, what?! Do we really need that much clothing to begin with?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Chemical-free:<\/strong> Unlike synthetic dyes, which can contain harmful chemicals and toxins (such as formaldehyde finishing resins, glues, chemical additives and tanning agents used in processing the fabric or clothing), natural dyes from your at-home scraps (and other plants, minerals, mushrooms) are free from harmful substances. This makes them so much safer for your skin, especially for those with sensitive skin (like babies’) or allergies and also for the environment. Many dyes are water soluble and sweat from the body can have the same effect, which leads to leaching out of the dye and increasing the risk of developing an allergy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Unique Colo<\/strong>urs and Variations<\/strong>: Natural dyes can produce a wide range of colours that are difficult to achieve with synthetic dyes. Each dye batch can vary slightly, resulting in one-of-a-kind pieces with small imperfections which only adds to uniqueness and is a sign of a hand-dyed item – which is a big plus in my book.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Tales from the Dye Pot<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Hi, I’m Maggie, and I’m a zero waste enthusiast. Natural printing and dyeing is one of my favourite ways to explore creativity while doing something good for the planet and your health. This somewhat meditative technique will keep your mind busy and help you focus and stay in the moment. If you would like to learn more about this journey and join in on the dyeing fun, subscribe HERE<\/a> and I will keep you posted on my new creative endeavours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Gold in Your Trash Bin<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Now let’s unpack your trash. There are some edible plants whose hulls and skins or pits make fabulous dyestuff. Ladys and Gents, meet the star trio – Onions, Pomegranates and Avocados!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Their skins and avocado pits are rich in tannins, which is a must for your dyes to adhere to fabric and they give lovely natural hues which range from yellow and orange to pinks and rusty browns. You can also get some olive greens and gray tones with an easy after-dye dip, but let’s save some goodness for another article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You can simply use them on the spot or save up some to try at a more convenient moment. You can dry them and save in a paper bag (like onion skins, pomegranate peels) or toss them in the freezer (best for avocado pits). I’ve tried both and I’ll tell ya, there is no chance of them getting moldy if you save them in a freezer. Provided you have the space and your housemates don’t grudge about it \uf04a Onion skins can keep up for years in a paper bag, those buggers are sturdy like heaven. I’m still finding my stashes all over the house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Getting Started with Kitchen <\/strong>Trash Dyeing<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Collect and Prepare Materials<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n