I know the washing/not washing fabric question has been discussed in depth but my question is regarding some fabric that I bought at a yard sale. There is some very nice fabric in the bag (like some that was just listed here for sale) that I know I won't use. I would like to list it here for sale and then keep what I want to use myself.

Ok, now do I wash and iron it before listing or do I list it with the caveat that it was purchased at yard sale and has not been washed? The seller were "upscale" and actually was a jewelry maker and had really nice things. I haven't brought the fabric inside yet...its in my car as I was undecided what to do.

Would it bother any of you to buy fabric listed like this?

Don't take it into your house without washing it. It's probably been in storage for a while and bugs do get into clean homes.

Wouldn't bother me.

I would use your own judgement.
If the fabric looks or smells dirty, then yes, wash it.

I wouldn't wash just because it came from someone elses home.

You could go directly to the laundry mat and put in the hot dryer for longer than 30 minutes. This is what I read that 30 minutes of heat kills bed bugs? That is the pest I would be most worried about.

If it smells or dirty I would wash it.

I have bought lots of nice fabric at thrift stores and garage sales and didn't wash it untill I heard about bedbugs. Now I don't bring any fabric or fabric items into my house without washing in hot ater and drying on hot too. My washer is in my garage and I put those things directly in the washing machine!

It wouldn't come inside my house until I washed it. Like a previous poster said, bugs can get into stored things.

I buy my fabric by the bolt at the wholesale warehouse and kept in my insulated garage with my cutting table. Before I plan to make anything I always wash the fabric.
Some fabric I have purchased anywhere else goes directly into the hot water wash and hot dryer.
Most of us now take no chances and appreciate others doing the same.
Unless of course, it is not washable fabric!!!

I would wash and iron it before selling.

As long as a note is attached to the item when it's posted, I think it would be up to the buyer to do whatever.

There are some that do not like to work with washed fabrics.

Yup. If you know you won't use it, just state the condition of the fabric in your listing.

"Bought at a yard sale, decided I didn't want it. I have not washed it."

Who knows if the original owner washed it, kwim?

I would absolutely wash it. There has been such a rash of bed bug outbreaks...

That...and did you see my maggot thread of a bunch of maggots hatching in fabric I bought from an estate sale??

WASH IT!!

I always wash the fabric ASAP.

WOW, all these posts certainly make my decision easier!! NOT!! LOL

I guess the "bedbug" thing is what worries me. I was recently at the convention center/hotel in our capital city...the only one that can be used for large gatherings. I didn't stay overnight at the hotel but my friend did and she found a bedbug in her bed. YUCK!!!!! She reported it to the manager and they "offered her a free breakfast"! The event director also told the hotel when she was settling the event charges and all they wanted to know was the room no.!!! It's sad!

If you do not have any idea where the fabric has been, then I think that answers the question...wash it.

EEEEWWWWW!!!! I'm sitting here eating my lunch.

I would recommend washing it too.

I always wash fabric from garage sales and thrift stores to make sure we don't get a bug infestation.

What if one just ironed/pressed it slowly with lots of steam and the iron set on "cotton"?

After doing a shake out of the fabrics outside, of course.

Wash it -- you don't know where it has been!

I'd wash it. If you don't you risk bringing something into your house that you don't want.

Did not know this. Thanks.

That...and did you see my maggot thread of a bunch of maggots hatching in fabric I bought from an estate sale??

WASH IT!![/quote]


:shock: :shock: WHAT :shock: :shock: do you have a link, cause I sure didn't see this :shock: :shock: :shock:

Wash, dry and iron if needed. Those that work with unwashed fabrics don't need to purchase. Safety first.

i wouldn't buy any fabric that was from a garage sale and not washed. as soon as i'd open your package, now that fabric is in my house and bugs could escape.

Wouldn't bother me. I love to buy fabric from yard sales or discount rooms.

:shock: :shock: WHAT :shock: :shock: do you have a link, cause I sure didn't see this :shock: :shock: :shock:[/quote]

Here you go!! http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-82183-1.htm

I do not like to work with washed fabric. If selling, just let people know what you have told us. I just would not worry about it (smile).

Oh Candace, I missed that. Eeeeeeew, I bet you were totally grossed out.

I'm with you - unless it comes from a store and is cut from the bolt, washing is a must for me.

. . . this is making my head itch . . . ick!

Hot dryer suggestion is good. However, for me, I am the wash it, dry it, iron it gal...and, yep, I do have ocd... You should have seen me on our last trip to Vegas...my poor hubby and son probably thought would have been easier to have driven, so I would have had our car to sleep in.. :-D
Kif

I would, but that's me.

I wash all fabric! As a Nurse I've worked in NYC and seen the fabric warehouses. Even had roaches in my clinic- UGH! If you plan to sell it- put the fabric in zippered sealed plastic bags, and let potential buyers know it is up to them to do as they please. I recently bought some fabric at the Thrift store- found live spiders inside the package!

I always wash and dry all fabric new or used. why risk it.

if I were going to pass the fabric on, I'd leave it in the garage and then tell the next buyer where it came from
WITHOUT WASHING

Anything I kept would hit the washer first off.

I have bought loads of fabric from garage sales, flea markets, etc and PLEASE PLEASE always wash it! You don't know where it has been or where the saler got it from.

I would wash it but not iron it until I was ready to use it. To me, it doesn't matter where it comes from, I feel better with clean fabric.

Same here.