Color your clothespins easily with these methods! You can then use them for a huge variety of crafts and useful items! I’ve dyed them, hand painted them and spray painted them. Dying is is by far the easiest method in my opinion, but the other ways work fine too.
How To Color Clothespins : Dying
This is the easiest way to color clothespins. You can do a bunch at a time and it covers them wonderfully plus you don't' have to take them apart which can be a pain. I've used regular food coloring which gives more of a stained looked. That can work depending on what you're after. Rit Dye gives a much deeper and more vibrant color.
Food coloring or Rit Dye each give a unique look depending on what you are after.
After soaking, drain, rinse well and lay to dry on paper towels. FYI: Never used dyed clothespins to actually hang wet clothes. The dye will come off on them!
How To Color Clothespins : Painting
You can take the clothespins apart and paint if desired. It's a bit of work in order to cover all sides and I found it tedious as I struggled to get them back together. I also tried painting over everything and not taking it apart. I painted the tops and sides and let it dry then I opened it up and painted under the part that clamps together. I then stuck a toothpick in so it would dry and the paint would not stick together. It depends on your patience and how much time you want to spend as to whether this method is for you.
66 responses
Do you think BEET JUICE would work?
If so, please tell us the process!
Absolutely!
Hi!
Is there a product you recommend for UV protectant. I made a clothespin wreath last year and the sun faded it horribly.
Thanks!
Lisa
Did you add salt and dish soap to the dye like it says to? What is the purpose in doing so?
Hi Sharon!
Not sure where you saw that but no we didn’t add those.
Ü
It says it on the Rit dye
Ahhh…. In all honesty this post is a few years old. I don’t remember adding those things. Wouldn’t hurt I guess but for this purpose I don’t think I did.
Sharon the salt is added when dying clothes to make the color absorb better. I’ve used the denim dye for years to salvage faded jeans, and adding the salt helped to keep the color from fading or bleeding. As for the wooden clothespins, the salt isn’t necessary because the wood is already porous.
Do you use liquid or powder Rit Dye?
We used powdered in this case but the liquid would work just as well. Ü
Wonderful idea and comments. Once dyed I think I might soak in a wood petrifier solution I previously purchased when making paper beads. This would waterprood the clothespins. Thank you for this idea Nancy.
So glad you liked it Deb. Ü
What is a wood petrified?
I AM DOING A BEACH THEME CLOTHS PIN WREATH AND I WOULD LIKE THE PINS TO LOOK LIKE THE COLOR OF DRIFTWOOD. WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST?
Hi Theresa!
Sounds fun! I’ve never done that but I think you are looking for an “aged” look that is lighter in color. I did find this with a quick search. Hopefully it will help you. Good luck! Clothespins Driftwood Effect
I wonder if you could tea or coffee dye them for that look.
I like the idea of dying the clothes pins. I made several wreaths a couple of years ago and my husband helped me paint them. We strung up a line, put up a bunch of pins, then spray painted them doing one color at a time. Since we painted them all it didn’t matter that the metal was painted because all of it was. If I were to make another one I think I would try dying just for the different look.
Painting works great depending on what you need. I’ve done that too!
Thanks for visiting Beth. Ü
Would like to know where the rionnon to go on the sports wreath can be purchased? Width the team name on it
Sorry… this question doesn’t make sense. Could you clarify please? Ü
Hi ,
first of all I wanna say I absolutely loved the ease of dying them. I made my patriotic wreath hand painting each and everyone that was a pain!
I’ve made my subsequent Halloween/ fall and Christmas ones with Dyeing and so much easier ! thank you for this.
I have found where you can get white ones and one thing to keep in mind as the clothes pins nowadays come in many sizes so make sure that if you buy these White ones that the other ones are the same size
and added bonus is that it doesn’t color the hardware.
I I don’t understand why people are concerned about that
I just assume have it colored so it’s all consistent .
Here is the link ( wasn’t sure if it was OK to put links on your blog if not just remove it )
https://www.consumercrafts.com/store/details/catalog/party-decorations-and-accessories/30029601
Hi Becky!
Thank you so much for the detailed comment. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. The link is fine. Appreciate you sharing the info. Ü
Hi, if I use the Rit Dye (which I prefer since it’s the easiest) is there something I can use to seal the color in, so it won’t fade?
Hi Staci!
Any type of clear sealer should work. Even Mod Podge. Ü
Thank you for getting back to me so quickly!
Staci
Thanks for sharing!! Have you found a good way to dye them white?
Hi Anne! You know I’ve never tried that… in fact I don’t think you can buy “white” dye… Rit only has a “whitener” for clothes. Because the dye is actually staining them, I doubt it would work. I just painted mine white. Ü
I want to use colored clothespins at a Gender Reveal party. The guests will wear the blue or pink clothespin to show which team they are on. So they will put on their clothes. Will the dye come off on their clothes? Just wondering if I should spray paint instead. Love the idea of dyeing!
Hi Cheryl! Well I had to do a little research on that. This is what I found on one gals blog. After dying the clothespins, rinse them then spread them out in the sun to dry. The gals said she’s never had problems with bleeding BUT if you want an added precaution you can do an added step of soaking them in vinegar for about 2 minutes AFTER you dyed them. (kind of like you do with Easter Eggs to set the color) THEN put them in the sun. Just make sure they are dried thoroughly. A day should do it if its sunny.
Good luck and thanks so much for stopping by!
Nancy
Also, using Neon food coloring is better as it gives the clothespins a shimmer!
Good idea!
This actually works best with food coloring if you put about 1/2 bottle of food coloring in a flat bottom container and omit the vinegar. Put clothes pins in and swirl around for a few minutes and then cover with water and let sit for a few hours. Omitting vinegar allows the metal to stay silver.
can I use alcohol rather than vinegar?
I wouldn’t think so. But I honestly don’t know.
Are you using the liquid RIT die or the powdered ?
Hi Becky! I use the liquid. Easier and less messy in my opinion. Ü
Thanks Nancy
Are powdered RIT and Tintex dyes essentially the same? Or is one better than the other?
Will the metal clips rust? Wondering if should take them off before dying.
No they are stainless steel and they dry fairly quickly. I’ve not had that problem at all myself. Ü
What’s the best way to write a saying on a clothespin?
Hi Emma! You could always hand write them on such as on shown here. If I was doing it I would print it out on a printer the size of your clothespin then cut it out and glue it on. Then I’d Mod Podge over it also for a nice finish. Here’s another example of that I found. Good luck!
[…] Paint or dye your clothespins if desired. You can also decorate them with Washi Tape. […]
[…] out our post “How To Color Clothespins”. It’s very helpful for things like […]
[…] This is another set I had done using the normal card for display. Its a piece of cardboard covered with scrapbook paper. These clothespins are all dyed with Rit Dye. We have a great tutorial on how to dye and color clothespins here. […]
Does anyone have a way to dye the clothes pins white. I have dyed the blue and red for a patriotic wreath, but im trying to avoid paining the white wons. Thanks for any suggestions. I like the Rit dyed as the dye doesnt cover up the hardware. Any help ? ?
I’m afraid the only way I know to do it is to spray paint them. But that does color the hardware… unless you take them apart which would be a pretty big chore! I even tried searching to buy white ones and all I could find had the hardware colored white too. (Guess folks who sell them have the same problem.) Maybe someone else will come up with a way to do that. Hope you can find something that works for you Greg!
What about pickling stain? You may need a few coats (…?)
http://thd.co/2bWwu8X
I cake decorating area there is a white food coloring. Not sure if it will work but worth a try
Oooh I need purple ones! Thanks for posting. Hello from Wonderful Wednesday.
I had no idea you could dye them!
Yep! Sure is a time saver too!
What a great way to add some color to your clothesline!
I would love to have you hop over and join the fun at Inspire Us Tuesday! (http://twolittlecavaliers.com/2015/06/inspire-us-tuesdays-peaches-for-everyone.html)
Thanks Felissa! FYI You don’t want to use these for hanging clothes… it will put color on your clothes.. yikes! They are for crafting. Ü
Great tips! I would have never thought to use food coloring. Thanks for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty 🙂
You’re welcome Brittany!
What do you use the clothespins for? Just decorative stuff? To sort clothes?
Here’s just a few things you can do with them! Our Clothespin Crafts
Tyvm Madam
Ü You’re very welcome.
I never thought of using RIT dye – that’s a great idea!! I tried food coloring, and it just didn’t seem like it stained it enough. Definitely going to try this!! Thanks!
Yeah the food coloring gives it that color wash effect. The Rit dye this VIBRANT and dark! Ü
Very cute 🙂 thanks for sharing the how-to
Your so welcome!
This actually works best with food coloring if you put about 1/2 bottle of food coloring in a flat bottom container and omit the vinegar. Put clothes pins in and swirl around for a few minutes and then cover with water and let sit for a few hours. Omitting vinegar allows the metal to stay silver.
Hi I’m Bonnie the best way I have found to paint clothes pins is to put them in a baggie with paint and toss around .Just a suggestion