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Ummmmmmmm - I ALWAYS have a nylon/pantyhose leg over the washer hose end to catch ALL my laundry lint/fibers. Helps to keep the pipes unclogged (whether you have city or septic pipes). I've been doing it FOREVER.

Try it! Change the nylon when it starts to fill up like a balloon when the washer empties...you don't want it to 'explode'

The main reason not to wash your rag quilts at home, is all of the strings can plug up your machine, and if you are not viligant about emptying your lint trap in the dryer, you could over heat it/cause a fire.

The threads will break down, but it takes considerably longer than toilet paper. As to causing a problem to your septic tank? That depends on how well the rest of the sludge is breaking down, and how many of these quilts you are making.

The $3-4 dollars it costs to wash these in a laundra mat is nothing compared to what you could spend later on washing them at home :wink: :D:D:D

The last rag quilt I made was of 3 layers of flannel. Turned out great, but when I washed it in my washer, all of the 'debris' ended up between the inside and outside drum. This would not allow the tub to spin out. Had to call a repairman to come work on it. Lesson learned. I love rag quilts but because of this will probably not make any more of them. We do not have a laundromat here.

I don't make rag quilts, but I definitely remember this thread if I do. I had never thought about the threads and lint in the pipes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkabasketlady

Quote:

Originally Posted by Connie in CO

Quilts are made of cotton,wouldn't that just go away with the the stuff you flush down once a month?Does that make since?

The once a month stuff is - Rid-X
We had to use it when we lived in IN. and had a septic system.
I've also been told to wash the rag quilts at a laundromat.

Believe I'd go with this, just to be sure!

Do as ConnieSue suggested. You can get lint traps that attach to your washer discharge hose, from any hardware store, and attaches easily. Works great, and why spend extra money going to the laundromat? You can even use 1/2 of a pair of pantyhose with a clamp,that's what we use. Also works great!

It doesn't matter if you have septic or not. When I do my rag quilts I ALWAYS go to the laundromat and use their big machines. It is worth the cost as I don't mess up my machines.

Funny story: Once I took my rag quilt to the laundromat and was drying it in the dryer. A woman from another country was concerned and kept telling me it was "broken" as I kept on pulling out all the loose threads from the dryer filter. She understood, maybe, when she saw the finished dried quilt.

ali

I live in town and I still go the laundromat just to wash newly finished rag quilts. I have two large pines in front and it has caused problems with the sewer.
The plumber told me not to wash them in my washer, so I listened.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlee

Rid-X is NOT necessary if you have a septic system. All it is is a form of yeast that naturally forms anyway. Experts will tell you that you really don't need it. What you want to avoid is bleach and other anti-bacterial products, which will kill the bacteria necessary for the breakdown of solids in the septic tank. Adding something like Rid-X after using bleach isn't going to help, because the bleach will kill the bacteria in Rid-X too.

Cotton is not going to hurt your septic, because it is biodegradable. It's going to rot away. The problem would be that until it does, if you do many rag quilts, you could at least temporarily clog your leach field and cause problems. I would think the problem would be if you're not using a 100% natural batting. Polyester fibers are not going to degrade, they WILL cause problems.

All in all, the laundromat is not a bad idea...

I'll remember this! My mother loved to use bleach & they had problems with their septic tank all the time! Wish their plumber had mentioned that anti-bacterial products & bleach prevented the septic tank from working properly. Guess he was just looking out for HIS own interests!
Thankfully I don't have a septic system & clean my HE washer filter quarterly & dryer filter everytime I use it.
If I could get to the hose (it's behind the washer/dryer w/ cabinets around it), I definitely think the nylon stocking over the end of the hose would certainly prevent clogging your system.

Oh gosh I use alot of bleach, about a 2 gallon a month...OOPS...I lived in the city for 20 years no septics there.