How do you wash the pre-cuts.....jelly rolls, charms etc.?
 

I always wash my new fabrics before they go in my sewing room. I have found some "charm packs" that I would like but I'm wondering how people wash the pre-cuts. Would putting them in a mesh bag work? Any advise would be helpful.
Barb

I don't. It would be too much of a hassle. Never had any problem.

I agree I do not wash pre-cuts, I feel that putting them in a mesh bag would be a good thing if you are going to wash them.

I don't pre-wash any of my pre-cut fabrics

I've heard some of the ladies handwash and use one of those lettuce dryer spinny things to wring the water out. Can you tell I don't own one of those? Then hang the pieces to dry and/or iron dry. Personally, I always have bought yardage and prewashed then cut. I suspect at some point prewashing becomes a bad idea (I am one of "those" people. I think everything should be prewashed but at some point ...)

I don't prewash. However, some people soak pre-cuts in hot water, then lay them flat to dry. This is enough to remove chemicals, show if they are going to bleed, and shrink them. I would not wash pre-cuts in a machine, even in a mesh bag; agitation would be very bad for all those edges.

I prewash all regular yardage but do not predawn pre cuts. I usually just wash the quilted item with tide and oxyclean and if it has lots of red, I throw in a color catcher.

I always wash them by hand in the sink with a dye catcher and hot water...then rinse in cold water and toss into the salad spinner....do this a few times then spread out on a towel...I press/starch while slightly damp...some shrink, but not much...strips are harder than charms but they are done the same way and then hung on wooden drying rack!

I usually don't prewash charm squares but had to do a batch when my cat knocked over ice tea onto a bunch. I used the mesh lingerie bag in the washing machine and dryer with success. I did have to iron each little one after drying. They look fine and usable.

Ditto I don't pre wash pre cuts.

I don't prewash precuts either.

I pre-wash everything, which is why I don't buy pre-cuts (at least not often). I did try washing some scraps recently in a mesh bag, and I was not happy with the way they clumped together inside the bag. I think hand washing would be the best way to go, but then the problem is that if they shrink or distort at all they will no longer have their original size and shape, which was presumably what you wanted when you bought them.

Ditto. Never prewash a precut. I havn't had any problems with them. I guess I have worried about fraying and then the blocks no longer matching up.

I do not pre wash and once done I wash with color catcher in the water, have not had any issues.

I no longer wash precuts. It can distort the size. If you must wash them (which I am sometimes tempted to do), I would suggest just rinsing in the sink and letting dry naturally.

Never wash pre-cuts, and never had a problem.

I use my salad spinner. Have to wash due to allergies I have the chemicals in the fab.

Wash, spin, rinse till clear water, hang over plastic clothes hanger in shower till dry or if you can pat back into square and dry flat.

Fabric manufacturers recommend that you NOT wash precuts.

You don't!

I don't wash pre-cuts either, but my guild is having a swap this year for 2.5" batik strips. Not knowing the quality of all the batik strips I'll be getting (14 per months for 12 months), I'm sure I'll need to wash them to test for bleeding. Thanks for the responses, everyone. Now I need to order a salad spinner!!

Thank you everyone for all the information. I think I will be doing the fabrics by hand and using my salad spinner.

Thanks again,
Barb130

Most pre-cuts are cut to a certain size. Not bigger. When you wash cotton, it shrinks. A 1 to 3% shrinkage can affect the size of a quilt. So if you wash pre-cuts be prepared to purchase more fabric at the same time to be able to finish the quilt. I personally don't prewash precuts - ever.

pre-washing (precuts) is seldom advised-
if you are set on doing it- a mesh bag would be advisable- but be prepared for your charms to no longer be 5" squares- and some may be quite (wonky) with pre-cuts it is recommended to use them as is- then wash the finished item-
if they are batiks/handdyes and bleeding may be an issue you can do a color test to see if any are going to run- and either pre-wash them or remove them from the mix-
but you will be happier in the long run if you do not pre-wash your pre-cuts=
many quilters do not purchase pre-cuts because it is best to not pre=wash them=if they are an (avid pre=washer)