 To improve dye fixation in pad steam dyeing with reactive dyes, we investigated the hydrophobic effect using five kinds of dyes and water ethanol dyeing medium. Higher molecule weight per water soluble group resulted in stronger dye hydrophobicity and higher fixation rate. Reducing steaming time and alkali concentration can be achieved with more hydrophobic dyes like RO16, while enhancing the hydrophobicity of dyeing medium can increase fixation rates and ks values. Using ethanol instead of water in dyeing medium increased the ks value and fixation rate of fabrics dyed with RV5 by 31.2 percent and 14 percent respectively, while maintaining good color fastness. This article was offered by Dawu Xu, Kwong-Jun-Fang, Chiuming Liu, and others.