How to Dye a Nylon Umbrella
- 1). Wash and rinse the outside of the umbrella with dish washing detergent and water.
- 2). Mix a solution of half white vinegar, half water in a spray bottle.
- 3). Spray the solution on the umbrella, thoroughly soaking the surface.
- 4). Prepare the acid dye according to manufactures instructions for flow painting dye. These instructions use ounces, not gallons of water.
- 5). Allow the dye to cool to room temperature before applying. Acid dyes must be prepared with boiling water.
- 6). Lie down a drop cloth on the work surface.
- 7). Open the umbrella. If you want to create a tie-dyed appearance, leave the umbrella closed and secure it tightly.
- 8). Dip a sponge brush into the dye and brush it on the outside of the umbrella. You can paint each panel a different color, or streak several colors together. The dyes bleed into each other, creating a new color at their intersection. For example; painting a blue dye and a yellow dye next to each other creates a thin green streak between them, where the two dyes flow together.
- 9). Turn on your clothing steamer and allow the water to heat up. When steam begins to come out of the nozzle, the steamer is ready to use.
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Hold the steamer 6 inches away from the umbrella panel. - 11
Steam each panel for 10 minutes to set the dye. - 12
Take the umbrella outside and rinse the umbrella with a garden hose until the water runs clear. - 13
Wash the umbrella with dish washing detergent to remove any dye clinging to the umbrella hardware. Wash the inside and outside of the umbrella.
