Procedure for Dying Carpet

Match the Color

• Color matching may be the most important --- and most difficult --- aspect of dyeing your carpet. Using a dye that does not match the rest of your carpet will still leave you with an unsightly, stained spot; removal of a stained spot was the purpose of dyeing to begin with. Professional carpet dyers do make house calls to perform color matching on your carpet. This will obviously cost money, but may be worth a little expense to avoid having to dye the carpet again after your first attempt, or having to replace the carpet completely because the colors don't match.

  If you cannot be sure that you are correctly matching your carpet's color, and you don't want to hire a professional to color-match your area, choose to dye your entire carpet a new color.

  Remember that you cannot dye a carpet lighter than its original color, as the old, darker color will always show through. Either properly match your carpet's color or choose to color the entire carpet a shade that is at least slightly darker than the original.

Clean the Carpet

• Vacuum and shampoo the carpet before you attempt to dye. Dirt, dust and debris will affect the way dye sticks to the carpet, and can change the color if mixed in with the dye. Allow the carpet to dry completely before dyeing.

Choose your Method

• Depending on if you are dyeing a spot or changing the color of your whole carpet, your methods may vary. Carpet dye can be used in pressure sprayers, such as paint sprayers, and some products come in spray cans. These sprayers are most effective for spot dyeing, as you would have to buy quite a number of cans and use the sprayer for a long period to cover an entire carpeted area.

  For spot dyeing, also consider carpet dye sticks. Try mixing the colors of the sticks on a piece of paper to check what color you actually want. Wet the carpet with plain water and color onto the spot like crayons on a piece of paper. Blend with a hairbrush, carpet brush or your hand. Start in the middle of the stain and work your way out to avoid too much overlap with the original color surrounding the stain. Mix colors until the stain is gone.

  If you dye the whole carpet, use a dye machine with nylon bristles; you can rent or buy these machines from most hardware or home improvement stores. The nylon bristles will work the dye deeply into the carpet, making for a long-lasting, fade-resistant color. However, if you do not have experience using these types of machines, consider spot-dyeing or hiring a professional.