I have a ton of Kool Aid packets left over from my extreme couponing days, and while I don’t plan on drinking them, I can’t stand to see them go to waste. The Girl decided she was going to have some friends over to do some Kool Aid Tie Dyed T-Shirts. I am so glad someone is willing to put my waste-not-want-not mentality at ease.
These are seriously so cool, I am going to have to resist the urge not to go out and buy MORE Kool Aid. Ha. Even if you don’t have a stockpile of Kool Aid lying around, these would still make a great, inexpensive summer activity for the kids.
Supplies
Small Plastic or Glass Bowls
Kool Aid Packets {assortment of flavors for different colors on the shirts}
White Vinegar
Plastic Gloves {unless you want to look like an Oompa-Loompa for the next several days}
Rubber bands
T-Shirts
Iron
Directions
In the plastic or glass bowls, mix two packets of Kool Aid with 1 cup of vinegar. Stir until Kool Aid is dissolved completely. {You will need a separate bowl for each flavor/color}
Twist the t-shirt and secure with the rubber bands. Do it several times, all over the t-shirt.
With gloves on, dip twisted ends of the t-shirt into the bowls of the Kool Aid mixture.
Let shirts air dry a little {we let ours air dry for 2 hours for two hours}
Set the color by ironing the shirt on medium high. Make sure to use an old towel or ironing cloth between your iron and t-shirt to make sure you don’t stain your iron.
Let the shirts sit a full 24 hours before washing.
So there you have it. How to make Kool Aid tie dyed t-shirts! Pretty easy if you ask me. 🙂
~Mavis
Laura says
Those are cute! I was just reading about making your own snow cone/shaved ice syrups with Kool Aid.
I haven’t made tie dyed t-shirts since I did it with my teenaged friends back in the early 70s! Sounds like a fun thing for a hot summer day.
Lisa says
The shirts turned out super cute! I’ll have to show my 3 teens, I’m sure they’ll want to do it with their friends. Last week my girls dyed the tips of their hair red using red Kool-Aid!
Emily says
25 years ago my mom did this with me on shoes. We sprinkled several colors on white keds and set it with vinegar.
Katie says
Does the color stay that vibrant after they are washed?
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes. The key is to not wash the shirt for at least 24 hours so the color absorbs into the cotton.
Kim says
Ok, so this did not work for me. After I washed them the colors washed out. So sad after spending so much time on them for the family. I did let mine set for 24 hours.
Autrey says
Does the shirt need to be wet first you dip it in Kool aid or do I dip it dry into the Kool aid mixture
ashley says
I love this, my daughter is starting a tie-dye business at school and this is the perfect idea!
Lindsey Whitney says
What a fun idea! I love this for summer. Just found your site and can’t wait to look around!
Cheyton says
mine turned out great
Jasmin says
can you use any kind of t-shirt or does it half to be cotton or something like that?
Thanks Jasmin
Lucy says
Works better if you boil the vinegar and koolaid
Jameshia Sample says
does this work with apple cider vinegar???
Morgan says
I don’t have vinegar is there anything I could ssubstitute
Evalynn Wisner says
I put the liquid in squirt bottles. Got alot more colors on each shirt. And much easier when working with 30 kids. We all had fun & got very creative. TY
Mavis says
Oooh. Great tip. Might have to try that next time!
Diane says
I’m trying this at my granddaughters bbparty. Can’t wait. My mom did allot of tie and dye in the 70s. We loved everything she designed
Nicki says
Do u take the rubber bands after applying kool-aid, so it can dry completely?
Glenda says
I tried it and they didn’t turn out. I let them dry 6 hours, ironed them and left the shirts 30 hours and then washed them in cold water and where the red was it turned pink and the blue washed out completely. My grandchildren are so bummed. We were so excited because they looked so cool too!