Stone Wash
The demand for stone washed clothing has encouraged a number of stores to stock the clothing. Stores are including the stone washed look as a part of their selection. This article will help you make your own stone washed look with your own clothing.
Steps
- Place the clothes that you wish to alter into a washing machine.
- Add 2 or 3 pumice stones into the washing machine with the clothes. Pumice stones were used in the original technique to create the stone washed look because they are abrasive and move thorough the clothes like sandpaper and remove the dye particles from the surface of the yarn.
- Remove the clothing and pumice stones from the washing machine once the wash cycle is complete.
- Repeat this method if you have not obtained the desired results. Remember not to overdo the pumice stone method as you may destroy the fabric of the material causing it to rip easily.
- Consider using bleach as an alternative to pumice stones. This is known as acid washing where dry clothes are bleached then placed in a washing machine.
- Use granulated pumice soaked in bleach as an alternative to bleach alone.
- Put the bleached clothing in the washer and clean using soap powder. The granules of pumice are removed.
- Consider a second wash if there is any lingering bleach residue on the clothing.
Tips
- Start by using one small pumice stone in your wash. If you have not achieved the desired affect on your clothes repeat the wash with 2 or more pumice stones.
Warnings
- Pumice stones may damage the drum of your washing machine.
- When too many pumice stones are used, the fabric is damaged especially at the waistband and hem. Rivets and metal buttons may be damaged along with the clothing's dye. Jeans can be ruined with this process.
