Tunic/obi ruined?

[Jedimom/Cor-Al Gelkar]

When I got back from COSI, I decided to wash my tunic and obi since I got my sleeve in sauce at the Spaghetti Warehouse. I sprayed down the area of the sleeve where the stain was with spray 'n wash and stuck them in.

But when I took them out, I noticed reddish-brown stains on several places on my tunic and obi/tabbards. I tried washing them again, but they reamined. I did not dry the garments but hung them up.

I have a feeling it may be leather dye, but some of the areas are no where near where my bellt would rub -- shoulders and very bottom edge of tunic. Any ideas of what the stain might be or how to get it out?

[Ldi-Ovef Te_Azi]

there is a certain product for cleaning/etc i used to used from the melaluca company. it is an oil made from the melaluca tea tree, if that cant get something out it isnt going to come out.
you can find it at melaluca.com

[Starkindler (The Naked Jedi)]

aka:
Tea Tree Oil.
It is a potent anti-Fungal/viral/bacterial oil.
I use it for nearly all household injuries and health needs.
GNC / Trader Joe's and other health food/ vitamin stores also carry it.
It doesn't taste too good but helps toothaches and did a good job on what I think was Strep-Throat a few years ago....not sure because by the time I got to my Doctor 2.5 days later it was almost healed.
Melaluca probably carries the purest oil (I briefly represented/bought from them), but the others are nearly as good.
Melaluca puts the oil into all their health and cleaning products.

...hadn't tried using it for stain removal yet...........now where were those blueberries?

[Jedimom/Cor-Al Gelkar]

Cool! I have Tea Tree Oil as a healing agent for my boo-boo head. I didn't realize you could use it for spot removal. Do I daub it on or what? How do I us it?

[Ldi-Ovef Te_Azi]

i just put a bit of it on my finger and rubbed it into the fabric, i dont know what fabric you are using, but if it is cotton it should work fine. it is a nice smelling oil too. it should be color safe, i mean i used it on color items for stain removal and it never caused a problem.

[JediKai]

I have good luck with Zout, a laundry stain remover.

[Schph Gochi]

I noticed those brown marks when I hung up your tunic in the bathroom at the Westin...
I thought that they had been there awhile....and figured it was the dye....

Of note....our local Darth Vader has been wearing his Vader gloves to events for years....all of a sudden.....one of the last time he wore them...his hands got all black from dye....never happened to him before....
I wonder if the dye just breaks down after a while of being exposed to sweat etc....maybe the belt is doing the same thing?

[Jedimom/Cor-Al Gelkar]

I know I had a few around the waist area, but I never noticed the ones on the shoulder before or 'way low. I always wondered anout the waist too since it should have marked up the obi and not the tunic really since the belt goes over the obi. Hmmm.

Note to self: Next tunic use better fabric.

I guess its about time I attempt another. That may take me a while

[Jedimom/Cor-Al Gelkar]

Oh! Once you put it on the stain, do you let it set a while or do you wash it right away?

[Olos Nay]

Alternatively, if you can't remove teh stains, how about making the "distressed look" like you actually did fight while wearing that outfit?

it is something I have in the planning for mine...

[Jedimom/Cor-Al Gelkar]

Yea I thought about that. The wears and tears of being a Jedi has to show

[Whinter Fenlynn]

jedikai said:

I have good luck with Zout, a laundry stain remover.

I agree, Kai. That stuff (ZOUT) is great!!!

[Jedimom/Cor-Al Gelkar]

Well the tea tree oil didn't even touch it, unless it needed to set a little. I looked for Zout at Wal-Mart and they didn't have it. Next time I go grocery shopping I'll look

But actually I am beginning to like the idea of a battle-worn tunic. I survived Order 66 after all...

[Deleted]

If you're thinking about possibly redying the tunic you could always attempt to use rit dye remover on it and let it soak in about two or so packs in the washing machine.

Then redye it again. I've done this a couple times myself due to dying (and bleach) mishaps.

[Theyrenotdolls (Den Dragonson)]

carol,
where did you get your jedi belt? did you make it? i ask because very often the dye will rub off onto clothing. My leather guy in New Orleans has told me that's the real reason to use the "super shene" or the "satin shene" after dyeing. It's possible that over time, the shene wears off and exposes the dye/leather, which in the right humidity or whatever could fade.

Luckily, the stuff is cheap and easy to apply... you can use a wool dauber, or just use an old sock. pour a tablesthingy of the sheen on the leather and spread it around using the sock. do this to several areas of the belt, including the back. you might want to do multiple coats.

Also, you son was there with you in a dyed karate gee, right? maybe some of that dye rubbed off onto ur tunic.

The only thing i can say about removing leather dye is good luck. I know it's usually in an alcohol based solvent and therefore soaking the cloth in alcohol (isopropyl, not ethyl...booze hounds around the house might try to turn it into a party) might help.

I've been working with some leather here, trying to "mold" it, wetting it with a 50/50 solution of water and alcohol, then letting it dry in the desired position. it comes out a lighter color than it was dyed originally. so you can try soaking the tunic in rubbing alcohol, i'm not sure what the alcohol will do to ur fabric, though.

Your utility room will be like an episode of beakman's world for awhile, i guess. Do be careful what chemicals you mix!