NikkiLu

I just threw away a piece of deep blue batik that my BFF had - she passed away and I got some of her fabric. I hand washed it in my pure white dish pan with just a drop of liquid soap in lukewarm water and it turned my water a brilliant blue. After about 4 or 5 rinses it was still brilliant blue - so I threw it away. It wasn't a very big piece, maybe 1/2 yard at the most - so not worth getting any of those chemicals to try to make it stop bleeding.

sandilee

The last quilt I made was a deep burgundy and it wasn't prewashed. A big mistake. When I was assembling the pieces together on the machine my hands were dyed red (from body heat) and the base of my machine has red dye on it. As I was quilting it I was wearing an old pair of canvas shoes and the dye even wore off on those!
This made a pre washer of me! This wasn't "bargain" fabric, either.

earthwalker

I am a pre-washer. Just this week my husband got new work uniforms (he works as a fitter/welder in the automotive trade). Washed them all (and cut and hemmed the pants). After day three he had a massive allergic reaction, everywhere the fabric touched he had swelling, welts, heat and itching. As the dye didn't run I guessed it was formaldehyde. Soaked them in boiling water, rinsed, soaked in milk and cold water for 2 hours, rinsed in cold water and then washed as usual with a vinegar rinse. The problem seems to be solved.

This is the first time he has been allergic to anything, and he is as tough as old boots (the kids call him "The Machine"). So even pre-washing, for some things isn't enough.

schelia

I use a product called "color catchers". You would be simply amazed how well they work. The "sheet" of color catcher that is in the washer would look like your purple towel above and everything else - including white - would have no fading on it at all! I do no pre-wash. I use the color catcher when the quilt needs washing. When given as a gift - I include a box of color catchers with the quilt.

HillCountryGal

OK... think y'all have made me a believer.
Going to buy some of those "color catchers" then get busy washing some fabric.
Thanks!

Geri B

I have not been a "per washer" until now.....to check for bleeding I would simply cut a piece of the fabric and put in a cup of hot water, if water turned color then I would decide whether to proceed w/using/prewashing or replace, but after reading about fabric being sprayed w/pesticides or whatever is used to stop "vermin" from entering the USA, I will now wash all. Taking that thought one step further....how many more things are treated for "vermin" that we purchase and are exposed to.....makes me almost paranoid thinking about it

justflyingin

So are you going to wash it again and see if it still bleeds?
I would. That's a lot of color on that towel.

quilter2090

I always pre-wash. I HAVE to get the chemicals out of the fabric before I can use it. What I have trouble understanding is this, why is it so hard to throw the fabric in the washer. It's just like a load of towels or clothes. I throw the fabric in the washer,put some detergent in and walk away and do something else until the machine is done. Then I throw the fabric in the dryer,and again walk away and do something else. It really is not that hard of a job to pre-wash the fabric. When you take the fabric out of the dryer, it's clean and soft and ready to use.

willferg

It's kind of a "On the one hand...on the other hand" kind of thing.

When I think of ALL the fabric I've washed that did not bleed, I hate to commit to prewashing. But when I think of the small handful of fabrics I've washed that bled like crazy, and the quilt I made that was forever altered by bleeding, well, then, prewashing seems not so bad!

I play it by ear and live dangerously from time to time...

mighty

Glad I pre wash!!!!