Can You Dye White Lace Curtains Black?

Curtain Manufacturing

• Manufactures put care into creating curtains -- a tedious and time-consuming process. A designer must first decide what fabric she will use for her lace curtains -- either cotton, polyester or a combination of the two. Fabric colors are then chosen by the designer, usually a white, beige or creme color. These colors are easier to dye and are more prevalent in a household than any other color. After creating a design for the lace curtains -- consisting of patterns and stitching -- the lace curtain designs go into the manufacturing process where the design becomes reality.

Manufacture Dyeing Process

• Upon completion, lace curtains are sorted into two sections for chemical dyeing. Section one consists of lace curtains to be dyed white while section two consists of lace curtains to be dyed specific colors. The curtains are then sent off to the chemical dyeing plant where they are professionally dyed the color of choice. Thereafter, the lace curtain rolls are stretched out and pass through an oven to be dried.

Natural Colors

• Lace curtains are created with natural colors. These natural colors are anywhere between natural white and coffee liquor. Natural colors offer a wide variety of colors while fitting any theme chosen for the household. Natural white is usually chosen for curtains because it looks white until contrasted to actual white. Black, while attractive, is usually not a chosen desire for consumers, so it is created by specific manufacturers.

Dyeing Curtains at Home

• Darker colored curtains can be attained through the process of tea dyeing. Boil a gallon of water, and add four teabags to the mixture. Allow the teabags 15 minutes to saturate the water. Place the colored curtains into the mixture, and let they soak until they reach your desired color. This process will only give your curtains a natural color, consisting of natural white to coffee liquor. For darker colored curtains, leave the curtains in the mixture longer than for lighter curtains. Mix a gallon of water and 1/2 cup of white vinegar, and place the curtains into the mixture after reaching the desired color. Let them soak for 15 minutes before rinsing and pressing the lace curtains. Never use chemical black dye on lace curtains as the color will turn gray, not black.