How to Make Madder Extract at Home

Making your own madder extract means pulling the color out of madder root into a liquid concentrate that you can add to any dye bath. It is a good way to use cut madder root or powder, and to get clearer reds by leaving the plant material out of the dye pot. If you prefer a ready-made, concentrated powder, try our madder extract.

What you need

• 100 g madder root powder or chopped madder root
• About 1.5 liters (1.5 quarts) of water, used in three batches
• A stainless steel or enamel pot, a thermometer and a fine strainer or cotton cloth
• A large jar or bottle for the finished extract

How to make madder extract, step by step

1. Soak: if you use chopped root, soak it overnight in water to soften it. Powder can be used straight away.
2. First extraction: cover the madder with about 500 ml of water and heat to 60–70 °C (140–160 °F). Hold it at this temperature for one hour. Do not boil: high heat releases brown compounds and dulls the red.
3. Strain: pour the liquid through a fine strainer or cotton cloth into your jar. Keep the madder.
4. Repeat: add fresh water to the same madder and extract it a second and third time in the same way. Each batch will be a little paler.
5. Combine: mix all the batches together. This is your madder extract.

How to use and store it

Add the extract to a dye pot of warm water, then add scoured and mordanted fiber and dye at 60–70 °C (140–160 °F) for about an hour, as described in our guide on how to dye with madder root powder. Liquid extract does not keep long at room temperature, so use it within a few days, keep it in the fridge, or freeze it.

Tips for better color

• Hard water gives deeper reds. In soft water, add a pinch of calcium carbonate.
• Adding vinegar or citric acid shifts madder toward orange. Add it only if you want orange shades, not to the extract itself.
• The strength of homemade extract depends on the age and quality of the roots, so test on a small sample first.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between homemade and commercial madder extract?

Commercial extract is concentrated and dried into a powder, so you need only 5–10% of the fiber weight and it keeps for years. Homemade liquid extract is weaker and must be used fresh.

Can I use the leftover madder?

Yes. After three extractions there is often still color left. Use it for a pale pink bath or add it to your compost.

Related: Everything to know about madder · Madder extract guide · Shop natural red dyes