Most people say DO NOT wash an unfinished quilt top.
What do you do if it is so icky that you don't want to touch it - but it is not quite terrible enough for one to be comfortable with throwing it in the trash?
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Most people say DO NOT wash an unfinished quilt top.
What do you do if it is so icky that you don't want to touch it - but it is not quite terrible enough for one to be comfortable with throwing it in the trash?
I think I would soak it in the washer but don't run the agitator. Then spin the water out after at least 30 minutes; probably longer.
Gloria
DO NOT SPIN...I would soak it in a big plastic tub of water (or a bathtub), then drain and smoosh out all the water you can, but no spinning or wringing. If you can get most of the water out you could lay it on a sheet on the floor to finish drying. It could also be rolled up in a large towel or two to help take out excess water.Originally Posted by joysewer
Can you post a picture of it? Or describe what pattern and size it is.
I recently took a quilt apart that was tied to replace the batting. I wasn't thinking and didn't wash it before taking it apart and washed it on the delicate setting. Since I have one of the new top loaders and it goes not have the center pillar it came out okay but it did stretch it a bit. After thinking about it I thought I should have basted the quilt together like a pillow case except sew all three sides.
I do not have anything particular in mind.
I have washed a quilt top. I did it on the gentle cycle.. I was afraid some dirt that got on it would stain if I didn't wash it right away. It came out just fine... but it was not to a show quilt anyway. Just a quilt to be gifted to a new mom at work
How about just soaking it in the sink with some Woolite? Handle it as little as possible then just lay flat to air dry.
I washed a top without being quilted and did not have a problem (standard top loader with agitator). Here is a link to the finished top. It ended up being a practice quilt when I got my LA.
My first quilt off the longarm
However, I think I was really lucky that I did not end up with a big mess. I have read plenty of stories of others not being so fortunate.
Other things you can try to get the musty out
Hang out on a clothesline on a breezy sunny day
Seal in a trash bag with some charcoal briquettes for a week or two.
If the problem is just (or primarily) the odor, how about treating with fabreeze and then hanging outside as feline fanatic suggests.
I would probably hand wash it, but if you are too nervous to do that, then I would sprinkle it with Baking Soda & after it had a while to absorb the odors, put the brush attachment onto my vacuum & vacuum it up. Haven't done it on an unfinished quilt before, but it works great between washes on finished quilts so I would think it would help.
Also, if you live in an area with nice weather, you can lay it out on the lawn or hang it from an outdoor clothesline & the sun should help freshen it up a bit (assuming you aren't bothered by the smell of grass).
Last edited by Bree123; 09-06-2015 at 02:31 PM.
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