You don’t want to cut the beets too small. If you do, the pieces will be harder to remove later on.

You will be boiling the water shortly, so the temperature does not matter.

It would be a good idea to wash and dry the fabric beforehand. This will remove any chemicals that might prevent the dye from adhering. Natural dye does not stick well to synthetics, so use natural fibers, such as cotton or linen. You can use this method to dye articles of clothing as well, as long as they are made from white cotton or linen.

You are only doing this for the pot that has the fabric in it. Don’t add anything to the pot with the beets in it. The vinegar will act as a fixative and help the dye adhere better to the fabric. Alternatively, use 1/2 cup (150 g) of salt for every 8 cups (1. 9 L) of water. [5] X Research source

Wait for both pots to come to a boil before moving on to the next step.

The longer you let the water simmer, the brighter the color will be.

Don’t empty the water from the dye pot.

Save the red dye leftover from the beets. Don’t dump this out.

You won’t be able to fill the fabric pot all the way. This is because some of the beet water evaporated while you cooked it.

Take the pot off the stove for this. Don’t let the dye bath keep simmering for these 12 to 24 hours.

It might be a good idea to wear plastic gloves for this step. The beet water may stain your hands for a few days. [13] X Research source If you don’t mind a lighter shade of pink, you can rinse the fabric in cool water.

If you are drying the fabric outside, keep a pot or bucket under it to catch any drips of dye. [15] X Research source

Even though your fabric is made from cotton or linen, you should still use a low-heat or warm setting on your iron. Don’t use the cotton or linen setting. There is a chance that some of the dye may transfer to the ironing board. Consider covering the board with an old, clean cloth first.

If you choose to use a washing machine, use a cold water setting. Wash the dyed fabric separately to avoid color transfer. [18] X Research source