I don’t know how to begin to describe the wonderful pink color of avocado seeds & peels. It is almost majestic that a green fruit can create such a wonderful pink color.
Oh the beauty of avocado pink! Maybe later I will ask my friend Natasha to write a poem about avocado pink. For now, let’s see how we can utilize it.
If you haven’t read the article on nature’s colors, I suggest you do it ASAP!
This will give you an idea of the myriad of things we can do with plants. In this case, avocado is my favorite. To be honest,avocado is always my favorite. Just think about this : You cut it, enjoy it in a salad or a sandwich and then keep the peels and the seed to dye an old T-shirt. How cool is that?
So, what do you think? Shall we?
Find the right avocado.
The variety of avocados that contains color in their skin, is Hass. They are the ones with the dark and rough skin.
Peel the avocados well :
Once you consume the avocado, thoroughly clear the skins from any residues. If there are residues left, the color may come out a bit dull. Also, if we intend to dry the peels first, mold will form.
Saving the peels & seeds for later :
If you aren’t ready to dye any fabric yet, but you have just eaten an avocado, you can thoroughly clean the peels and seed and let them dry. After that, store them in a cardboard box. Any time you want to paint something pink (!) just grab two peels and get started!
Choose the fabric / clothing that you want to dye :
It is important to know what fabric you are going to dye. The fabrics that absorb natural colors well are cotton, linen & viscose, but not so much. Look for old cotton T-shirts, or linen kitchen towels.
Preparing the fabric :
Before dipping the fabric into the color, it is important to prepare. By preparing the fabric we assist the fibers in absorbing the dyefor an intense and long-lasting result. Wash the fabric well with organic soap and let it dry. Create a mixture of water and salt and dip the fabric in. Leave it for 12 hours, so that the salt penetrates into the fibers of the fabric. Take the fabric out, let it dry and after 12 hours dip it into the color. Before dipping, decide if you strive from a more “uniform” result or a more vintage look. In this case, fold the fabric or tie a knot and then dip it into the color.
Instructions :
In a saucepan, add 1 liter of water along with the peels and seeds of 2 avocados! Place in medium heat. Simmer for 30 minutes. Then, lower the heat a bit and leave it for another hour. If you noticed that the water has evaporated, add some more. This doesn’t dilute the color, you will just have more.
(If we don’t add water regularly, then you will make a concentrated paint, that you can store in the refrigerator and dilute it with water every time you want to paint something.)
When you notice a deep red color in your pot, it means that the color is ready and you can withdraw from heat.
Let’s dye the fabric :
Once removed from the heat, allow the paint to cool down. Strain well with an old cloth, or with a strainer, to make sure that there are no pieces left in the dye that will create weird prints on the fabric. After straining, transfer the dye back in the pot. Turn the stove eyes on the first setting and soak the fabric. Stir often so that the color penetrates the whole fabric. Heat for a quarter of an hour and remove from the heat. Leave the fabric in the dye for as long as you want, depending on the result you want to achieve.
In the image below, you can see the shades of pink depending on the time I left the fabric in the dye.
If you take the fabric out of the dye, let it dry and realize that you wanted a more intense result, you can dip it back in the color! When the fabric has the color of your liking, remove from the dyeand leave it in a shady place to dry. Be careful not to leave it in the sun! This will fade the color!
And now we wait…
Wait 5-10 days until you wash the fabric and start wearing / using it. The longer you leave the dye on the fabric without washing, the more the dye tannins penetrate the fibers of the fabric and the more intense the color.
After a few days, your fabric is ready to be washed and ready to use! You can wash it normally in the washing machine at 30 degrees, but I prefer to treat my avocado clothes more gently and wash them by hand with an ecological detergent.
I’m sure you will love this process as much as I do. I’m sure you will be enchanted by avocado pink.
For any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me through any of my social media 😉
I look forward to seeing your heavenly pink results!
See you soon,
