Health & Safety

The dyes and chemicals we sell are safe as long as you use a little common sense when handling them.

Common Sense and Color: We sell strong and colorful fabric dye. Be careful where you use the dye because dye STAINS things. Dye will stain your skin, carpet, table, floor, driveway, pet, lawn, gutter, street, clothing, aluminum pans, etc. This dye generally does not stain plastic, although I've seen some colors stain some plastics. I've never seen or heard of this dye stain the inside of a washing machine. But, because I don't know what all washing machines are made of, I will not guarantee that it will not stain something inside your machine. However, I and many of my customers use this dye in their washing machines without a problem. It is much easier to prevent dye stains than it is to remove them. WEAR GLOVES and protective clothing to keep dye from staining skin. Cover work areas with a base of plastic covered with newspapers or cardboard to protect your house, driveway, or lawn. Avoid spills by keeping out pets. Use common sense! If you do get dye on your skin, it may take a day or so to wash off. If you get dye on your carpet, table, etc., it may or may not wash out. Chlorine bleach can remove dye but it can also ruin what you use it on and bleach should not be used on skin. "In general there are no known chronic effects associated with overexposure to this material.''

Common Sense and breathing powders: People should take care not to breath powders of any kind (flour, dirt, laundry soap, etc.) You can avoid breathing dye powders and chemicals by wearing a NOISH/MSHA Approved Dust Respirator. Some people may be allergic to some dye powders and breathing them may cause asthma-type symptoms such as difficulty in breathing.

Common Sense and cancer warnings: These dyes contain formaldehyde in about the same levels (under 100 parts per million) that are contained in the fruits and vegetables that you eat. Formaldehyde is generated by growing plants and is pretty much unavoidable. Many years ago, many dyes contained large amounts of added formaldehyde and because of this, could be considered an environmental or health concern. Our dyes are now made with only trace amounts of formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is on California's list of chemicals that might cause cancer, but in the trace amounts contained in these dyes, should not cause problems. We deal in industrial quantities of these dyes and nowhere on the current material safety data sheets, or the large containers that we deal in are there any cancer warnings. If this ever changes, or we find out new information, we will pass that information on to our customers. Material Safety Data Sheets are always available upon request.

Common Sense and the chemicals we sell:

Dye Fixer is Sodium Carbonate. Sodium Carbonate is a main ingredient in most laundry detergents and other products such as bubble bath. Treat it as you would a very concentrated soap; wear gloves to protect your skin from irritation. Wear eye protection to keep from splashing in your eyes. Wear a dust mask to avoid breathing powders.

Urea is a common chemical (Urea is produced by your body everyday.) It is an ingredient in many lotions and cosmetics.

Ludigol is a chemical with a long name: m-NITROBENZENESULFONIC ACID SODIUM SALT. Precaution measures in handling include: avoid contact with eyes, avoid breathing dust, wash thoroughly after handling.

Water Softener is sodium hexametaphosphate. It is not considered a hazardous material. Follow normal common sense chemical handling procedures as you would with all our products.

Sodium Alginate is a common food ingredient. It is made from sea weed. Follow normal common sense handling procedures as you would all our products.