Originally Posted by OdessaQuilts
rb, would you please clarify something for me? I know you said that all containers, etc., should be used ONLY for this process. But then you said you used your kitchen sink? Do you still wash dishes there? Do food prep?
Yes, I still wash dishes in my sink. I cleaned it really well, because it's one of those icky white resin (?) ones. If I had a stainless steel one (soon I hope), I'd just give it a good scrub, because it won't absorb any chemmies. Food prep...I covered my counter work area with a plastic table cloth. I don't let food touch the sink, even veggies while washing, so that's ok. The no-contact-with-food-containers thing, is, I believe, the dye companies covering themselves legally. However, I've only ever come across mention of the problem (online) next mentioned with the mask.
Originally Posted by OdessaQuilts
Also, if you're wearing a mask to avoid inhaling any dye powders, should you honestly be doing this in the kitchen (or any food prep area for that matter)?
I believe the mask is to avoid allergic reactions to some of the dye powders. They don't fly all over or anything, it's a relatively heavy powder. If your work area is covered, you don't have an iced cake sitting beside your work area, and you wipe down the rest of your counters, then I would think it should be fine. I don't put foods directly on my counter (but on a plate or cutting board) unless it's fruit or veggies about to be washed. And chances are they're covered in microscopic bits of manure, dirt or pesticides anyway.
Originally Posted by OdessaQuilts
Honestly, I don't want to create a big fuss here, but I just want to make sure that anyone who does this does it safely. Especially since I want to try this some day, too, and since I also make wedding cakes in my kitchen, I don't want to run the risk of contaminating an area that should not be contaminated.
Thanks for the advice.
Odessa
No problem, very good, logical questions/points. In our house, we have a saying...Safety First. LOL IF you have a laundry room, with a tub and a work area (counter, top of washer, dryer etc.), I would strongly recommend doing it there. IF you have a bathroom with a countertop larger than just a sink, and a tub that won't stain (like standard porcelain coated tubs, don't know about fiberglass), I'd do it there. Same with any kind of outbuilding with running water, or a garage. Kitchen is my last choice. You could mix the concentrates outside or in a different room, and then do the rest of your work in a kitchen to wipe out any chance of dye powder travelling. However, if using outbuildings, the water in the dye needs to be around room temp or warmer (not hot) to react. In a cold climate like mine, dyeing outside is out of the question the majority of the year due to the cold. As for rinsing out the fabric and dumping the dyes, that could be down down the toilet, in a bathtub, if you don't have a laundry tub. Doesn't need to be in your kitchen sink.
Think I got all of your questions. :D