How To Dry Tie Dye Shirts

You’ve created a beautifully tie dyed item, let the dye cure for the proper amount of time, and then washed it the right way. The last step before using/wearing it is DRYING. How do you dry tie dye shirts (or any other item) and make sure those colors stay vibrant? Let’s discuss air drying versus the dryer and why one is better than the other.
Check out How Long To Let Tie Dye Sit Before Rinsing for the proper amount of curing time and see How To Wash Tie Dye And Keep It Bright And Colorful for the “right way” to wash your tie dyed items.
How To Dry Tie Dye Shirts (And Other Items)
Qualities Of Fabric
There are several factors to consider when trying to maintain something made of fabric. It is important to understand these, to better understand what affects them over time. This can get a bit techy as it did in my Textile Science class in college, so I will keep the focus on tie dyeing.
Colorfastness
Colorfastness is the resistance to fading (or the ability of a dye to retain its color when exposed to light and washing). For all tie dyed fabrics (which are natural), they are more limited in how much dye they can absorb and how bright they can get when compared to a synthetic fabric like polyester or spandex.
Shrinkage
Shrinkage in fabric, as most of you know, is the width and length contraction due to washing, drying and exposure to heat. Natural fabrics that we use to tie dye are particularly sensitive to shrinkage if not cared for properly.
Hand (Feel)
Hand, or hand feel, are those tactile (touch) qualities of a fabric like softness, firmness, elasticity, and resilience. As tie dye fabrics are mostly worn, the hand feel is an importance quality to maintain.
Fabric Drying Options
Fabric drying falls into 2 categories: air drying and mechanical drying (dryer, blow dryer, etc). If a fabric’s qualities are impacted negatively over time due to heat, washing, drying, and light exposure (as noted above), let’s discuss the specifics of what each option does in relationship to those factors.
Air Drying
The most natural way to dry fabric is by using air. Leaving the item out, exposed to the air, allows the moisture in the fabric to evaporate (as long as the air is dry enough). While air drying is considered the more gentle of the 2 drying options, there are better and worse ways to do it. The most gentle way to air dry is to hang, or lay flat, the item inside (or in the shade). There is minimal light, heat, and agitation for the fabric. Drying fabric inside, but near a heater or a window exposes the fabric to extra heat or light, respectively. Drying fabric outside in the sun exposes the fabric to light and possibly heat.

Mechanical Drying
Mechanical drying is the quicker of the 2 drying methods, but comes with a warning. Fabric that is put in the dryer gets exposed to heat, sometimes extreme, and agitation as it rubs the fabric against the walls of the dryer and anything else in there with it. Smaller drying devices, like a blow dryer, use forced heat to dry the fabric (and take forever to dry).
Can You Put Tie Dye In The Dryer?
If you are pressed for time or the air is really humid, you can put your item in the dryer. There is no way to get around the agitation, but the dryer can be set to no or minimal heat to avoid shrinkage and minimize the color fading.
What is The Best Way To Dry Tie Dye?
In conclusion, the best way to dry your tie dye is air drying indoors away from heat sources and windows. All other options will, over time, lead to a loss of those fabric qualities (colorfastness, shrinkage, and hand feel).
If you are like me, where sometimes the ideal is not possible, then when one tie dye shirt does eventually fade, just plan for tie dyeing another. That works too! 🙂 Happy Tie Dyeing!