Will tie dye work without soda ash?
You use different types of dyes for different fibers. If you dye a cotton T-shirt, you can use a “fiber-reactive” dye. Pre-soaking in Soda Ash fixer solution is what allows the fiber reactive dyes to work at room temperature. The reaction can also be aided with heat. Some tie-dyers have had success with using baking soda and microwaving their dyed articles. Since baking soda is a weaker alkali than Soda Ash, it must be accompanied by heat.
