Natural {DIY} Ways to Dye Easter Eggs

A lot of Easter egg dye kits that you can buy in stores are overpriced, and most contain chemicals that we can barely pronounce. There are some natural egg dyeing kits available online (such as the Eco-Eggs Easter Egg Coloring Kit), but if you look in your pantry you can find some less-expensive alternatives for coloring your eggs.

You can make a simple egg dye by mixing one tablespoon of food coloring with two teaspoons of vinegar in a small bowl or mug that’s deep enough to accommodate an egg. When you’ve added the vinegar and food coloring, fill the cup or bowl halfway with warm water and stir. Using a spoon, dip your hard-boiled eggs into the mixture (careful, don’t drop them in, or they’ll crack!). Leave the egg in the bowl until it’s as colorful as you like.

If you’d rather go completely natural, you can use many different vegetables, plants and fruits to make egg dyes. 

For the DIY Easter Egg dye you can use:

-Tea or coffee grounds (makes a shade of brown)
-Cranberries (red, pink)
-Turmeric/saffron (golden yellow)
-Spinach leaves (green)
-Red onion skins or beets (deep shades of purple)
-Blueberries

To make plant/fruit dye, follow these steps

1. Mix the vegetable, fruit, or plant (use more if you want stronger colors) with a tablespoon of vinegar in a medium saucepan.
2. Add cold water, enough to cover your eggs.
3. Add your uncooked eggs and boil for no less than 8 minutes to make sure they’re fully cooked. Let them simmer for ten minutes.

Once the eggs are the shade you want them to be, remove them from the dye. Once they’re cooled, refrigerate them or use them in your eco-friendly Easter celebration.

Coloring your Easter eggs with natural or homemade dyes is a great way to celebrate the season without bringing a lot of chemicals into your home. You and your family will have fun, and you’ll also save money and be gentler on the environment.

Photo via Flickr

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