What Can You Dye Leather With? (Rit, Coffee, Paint, Stain)
Color fades or stains come. Those situations as well as water discolorization convince people that they should dye their leather and make them look new again. Sometimes this is a smart decision and other times you might have let the professionals handle the job.
What can you dye leather with? The good news is that you have lots of choices when it comes to selecting a dye. Commercial dyes like RIT or Jacquard, etc., will handle the task with ease. You may even want to consider using vinegar and rust to darken your leather’s coloring making it harder to see stains, etc.
To learn all about dyeing leather just continue to read our article. It delves into the topic with relish so you have all the correct information you need to do the job yourself. Just keep in mind, it might be easier to just buy a new leather outfit instead of dyeing your current ones.
Dyeing Leather 101
Can You Dye Leather?
Yes, you can. Leather is a natural fabric and natural fabrics usually accept different dyes without any hassle. The trick for leather though is knowing the tanning process first. That way you can get the right dye to change the coloring.
Even vegetable tanning leathers do not produce consistent results so the whole process is done through trial and error. That means your dyeing attempt may not be as successful as you would like.
Make sure to read any directions on the dyes you select to make sure you get the process right and do not make any mistakes. You will need to prepare the leather first to do the dyeing task correctly.
This is not a job you can do when you are in a hurry or short of time. Make sure you have plenty blocked out so that you can be successful and get the look you want. The right look takes time.
Who Can Dye Leather Shoes?
Just about anyone can do this job. It is not really that difficult to do. There are just some extra steps that you would not need to do when you are dyeing fabrics like cotton or linen.
Also, there are lots of dyes for you to choose from. The method you use will be determined more by the type of leather your garment or shoes were made from and the tanning process than they are for your skill level.
Another issue you have to be concerned about is if the leather is real or not. Synthetic materials are very hard to dye and fake leather takes a lot of skill and the right technique to have positive results.
Then, those shoes may end up with a bad smell if you are not careful. Most people may pass that smell off as something wrong with your feet so you may be lucky on that score.
Do You Dye Leather Before or After Sewing? (Tooling or Burnishing)
This is an interesting question to answer as some people get better results if they dye the edges only before burnishing. The reason behind that success is that the dye can soak in better when the leather is not matted down or covered in oil.
But like so many things in the world of fabrics, this idea does not come with a 100% agreement. Some experts say you should burnish first, even the edges, before dyeing. It will depend on which look you want if you dye before or after the burnishing step.
If you decide to dye the edges first before burnishing, make sure to finish the dyeing process with a little beeswax after the burnishing is over. This ingredient helps blend the colors.
The only instruction that got any real consensus is that you need to figure it out for yourself as so many people do the dyeing process differently. You never know when you will discover a newer and better way to dye leather.
What do You Dye Leather With?
There are many different products you can use to dye leather. One is an alcohol-based leather dye which should penetrate your leather materials very deeply. What that does is bring the colors past the surface helping them to last longer. The only problem is that some of the moisture in leather is lost when the alcohol dries.
Then there are oil-based dyes that also penetrate the material beyond the surface. These dyes help overcome the lack of moisture issues that alcohol-based dyes bring. Whether you use alcohol or oil-based dyes, you should use a coating to seal in the color before wearing the item again.
Next, there are water-based dyes that do not penetrate very far and are not as vibrant when it comes to color. They do not last as long either. Also, shoe polish is a good temporary dye if you want to take the time to apply it.
Dye Leather With Rit
Not only do you have to still prepare your leather, but you also need to have a dyeing station set up to make sure the process goes off without a hitch. What you have to watch out for, especially for shoes and handbags, is the sealant used by the manufacturer to protect the leather. This stops the dye from getting to the material.
Once you have prepared the leather and your work station, soak the leather for some time. The longer you soak it, the richer the color. So you are on your own on this as how long you soak depends on your color preference.
Make sure to let the garment dry flat overnight. Wet leather looks darker than dry leather so don’t be fooled by the color when you take it out of its dye bath. When the leather item is dry, put a coat of sealant over your work to preserve the color and make it last a long time.
Dyeing Leather With Coffee
For the best results, you should do this procedure with vegetable-tanned leather. That tanning method is specially designed to handle dyes and be manipulated color-wise. Next, you can use instant coffee or brew up some fresh ground coffee. It is up to you to decide which type of coffee you will use.
Again, the length of soaking time will influence the light or dark nature of the coffee color you get. It is possible to soak leather for 1, 4, or even 8 hours without hurting the material. Then let the material dry.
Once it is dry, the leather will not be pliable so use a conditioner to put some of the flexibility and moisture back into the garment. Drying is one of the problems you need to watch out for. Mold is another when you use natural materials to dye your leather.
Dye Leather With Kool-Aid
To use Kool-Aid as a dye, the material has to be protein-based. Other types of fibers will not work so well using this kid’s drink as a dye. One problem will be that the coloring will wash out possibly staining other fabrics nearby.
This process may or may not work for leather. First, you soak the garment in hot water in a sink for about 20+ minutes. While the garment is soaking, turn your stove on, and mix water, vinegar, and Kool-Aid in the pot and let it get to the point where steam is rising from the mixture.
When hot enough, move the fabric to the pot and let simmer for 45 minutes. Add more mixture if there is not enough to cover the garment. Once the time limit is up, turn off the heat and let the item cool. Then hang to dry after rinsing in warm water till the dye color stops coming off the clothing.
Leather Dye vs Acrylic Paint
There are advantages to using both dyeing options. The leather dyes penetrate better and the fabric holds on to that color longer. Whereas the acrylic paint usually only touches the surface of the leather and can be washed out or worn out very easily.
Another bad aspect of acrylic paint is that it dries to a hard finish and can crack very easily. There is no real way to add a leather conditioner to soften the paint. Low traffic items are best for acrylic paint.
When it comes to color, acrylic paints wins this part of the competition. That option comes in many colors and they are usually very vibrant. On the other hand, leather dyes have limited color choices and are not as brilliant as acrylic paint can be.
What it boils down to is how you want your leather item to look and if it is going to be given a lot of use or not.
Dye Leather With Hair Dye
It seems that hair dye is the one dye that leather hates. That is because it is one of the toughest dyes to remove from this fabric. If the dye is wet, then you stand a good chance of removing hair dye but if it dries, you may be stuck with the color.
That is okay if the hair dye is black but if it is n off traditional color, it may not look so good when you are done. When you use hair dye, do a simple test first to make sure the leather won’t be ruined when you apply the dye.
When using hair dye, you should have lots of practice and developed your skills before you take this step. Dyeing leather is not always easy and hair dye can be permanent if you make a mistake.
Make sure to check the type of leather and the tanning process before you proceed as that will make the task either easier or a lot more difficult.
Leather Dye vs Wood Stain
The big difference between these two products is that the latter only changes the tone of the color. The former product actually changes the color. Both products are made with oil and alcohol bases so there is no difference between their construction.
Be careful of water dyes. They are not as great as their advertising claims. It is best to stick to the higher quality dye or stain, to get that great look you want on your leather items. Leather dyes will work well in reverse also. That means you can use them to stain any wood project that is unfinished and needing a little color.
Wood stains merely contain pigment and dyes contain actual dye. There is a difference between the two and do not expect stains to do the work of dyes. They are not meant to change the color, just bring a different tone to the item.
Dye Leather With Tea
This process will be a lot like using coffee to stain your leather items. The difference is you need tea bags without the strong or tag. That means you need to cut the tags and strong off or use those tea bags that have neither item on them.
Next, you will need about 40 tea bags to get the job done right. Let them steep for about 15 minutes. Make sure the leather is nice and clean before putting it in the tea and getting it completely under the surface.
The minimum soaking time is 1 hour. You are the judge of the color result and if you want darker, then let the item soak longer. Keeping the item in tea overnight will not hurt it.
When you are happy with the color, remove and rinse the garment in cold water. Add a little vinegar and soak for about 10 minutes to set the color. Let dry.
Dyeing Leather With Food Coloring
In this situation, you need to use untreated leather. Any leather fabric with oil on it already will have the food coloring or other dyes slide right off. The ideal leather material is the one with a soft fuzzy texture.
Now, mix a dozen drops of the food coloring you want in some vinegar and then layout the leather so it is flat and easily accessed. Dab a piece of cheesecloth in the mixture and blot the surface of the leather with the cloth. Let dry for 24 hours.
If you want a very even and smooth look, soak the leather in the food coloring and vinegar mixture and let soak for about 15 minutes. Blot off any excess moisture and let dry for at least 24 hours and up to 36 hours.
Different leather types and tanning processes may not work with this method so make sure to read up on dyes and leather to get the right method for your clothing.
Leather Dye vs Shoe Polish
This is another case where one product goes deep while the other remains on or near the surface. The shoe polish does the latter action and the leather dye does the former. So you can guess already how your leather will look and how long it will last.
If you want speed over depth of color, using shoe polish is the faster of the two methods. Unfortunately, the shoe polish will not last long and it is doubtful that you can put a coating over the shoe polish to make it last a little longer.
This might be a good thing if you are only changing the leather’s color for a costume or some other one time only event. Plus, you can get the job done without the mess. Shoe polish should work as it is good for leather shoes and helps them stay in top shape and looking good.
Can You Dye Faux Leather?
There are two problems that you need to know about if you are going to dye faux leather items. First, faux leather is not leather and has a different composition. Second, what works on leather may not work for faux leather.
To begin, make sure the fake leather is clean. The best way is to use rubbing alcohol but if you use too much you run the risk of harming your shoes, etc. Next, when the items are dry, you can use upholstery paint or this air-drying aniline dyes.
The latter may be a cheaper way to go. Don’t forget to cover the parts you don't want to be dyed and you can use different tapes to handle that chore. If you use the spray make sure to follow the instructions. Then apply as much dye as you need to achieve the color you want.
There are other methods you can try, so do a little research and see which one works for you and the items you want to re-color.
How To Dye Leather Shoes
One thing to take into account when dyeing shoes or any product. All dyes do not react the same way to the same fabric and the results you get may be different than the one you read about.
Then dye is transparent and it is like putting colored cellophane on your shoes. Any mistakes you want to cover up will still be seen. Finally, a dye is permanent and if you make a mistake consider buying a new pair of shoes.
First, you will need a leather preparer and deglazer so that the dye can fully penetrate when it is its turn to be put on your shoes. These remove the old finish so you can work with ease.
Next, apply the leather dye and the alcohol version dries faster. Make sure to tape those areas you do not want dyeing before you apply anything. Follow all instructions to make sure to get the best results.
When done and the shoes are dry, add a finisher to restore some of the moisture to your shoes.
Dyeing Leather Couch
Depending on the size of your couch, you should buy a 16-ounce bottle of dye to handle the task. Like dyeing leather shoes, you should do this in a well-ventilated area and clean the couch first. Then you will need to apply the preparer and deglazer before adding the dye.
The couch can be cleaned with soapy water and use either vinegar or rubbing alcohol to get any stains out. Cover those parts you do not want staining with dye. When all of that is done, apply your dye according to the instructions given on the bottle or dye container.
The best way to apply the dye is to put it in a spray bottle and spray the dye onto the couch. Make sure your spray is even and that it gets the leather wet and not soaking wet.
This takes a little longer but it might be easier to get that even look. Let dry for about an hour and add another coat or two. In the end, apply your finisher to maintain your hard work.
How To Dye Leather Black
One of the best ways to do this task is to forget buying the commercial dyes. All you need is a little vinegar and rust, yes we said rust, and your leather will be permanently dyed a dark black.
To find the rust just look at your uncoated nails or other metal objects and use steel wool to get the rust into the vinegar or just soak the rusting items in warm but not too hot vinegar.
Cover for about a week making sure a hole is in the lid to let any gases escape. Then soak the leather in black tea first before soaking it in the rust and vinegar.
Some Final Words
Dyeing leather may be a longer process than you had anticipated. So make sure you give yourself plenty of time to do the job as rushed work does not turn out quality results.
The results you get may not be the same results your friend got and the reason for that is that dyeing fabrics is not an exact science and anything can happen.
