Pre-washing with color catcher
#1
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 4,394
Pre-washing with color catcher
I bought some red fabric from Joanns the other day and have been prewashing it with color catcher before putting it in a Christmas tree skirt with white fabric. I've washed it about 6 times now, and the color catcher is still turning pink. Any suggestions? Thanks!
#3
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 11,276
You can try using Retayne, which will set the dye. Is it for you? If it is a tree skirt, and I was going to keep it, it probably wouldn't get laundered ! My tree is in a south window, and I think it would fade before it really got dirty enough to wash. You can always send it to a dry cleaner.
#5
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 12,930
If it still bleeds after two go-rounds with Retayne, it's probably better used for something else. One thing to be aware of; not all whites will pick up color. Try dampening a piece of the white fabric you will be using and rub it against the red. If it doesn't pick up color, the whole bleeding thing may be a non-issue. To make sure you could throw in a piece of the white fabric and wash it with the red. (I would do that after the Retayne to make sure that there will be no color transfer later.)
#6
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Florida
Posts: 5,963
I have had red fabric that has done that. I used it in a red/dark green pattern table topper. To this day, the red loses it's dye. I never tried the Retayne but, I did try Blue Dawn. Since it doesn't affect the pattern, there is no white with it, I just let it bleed.
#8
Retayne to set, a lot of people use it for prewashing. Synthropal keeps the loose dye in the wash from setting back on the fabric, a lot of people (myself included) use this on finished projects. Hope this helps. But sometimes red just won't cooperate no matter what you try. I also agree, if it is still bad, try a different fabric.
#9
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Southern California
Posts: 19,127
I had the same thing happen to me with placemats. The white is not the same bright shade but that was long before there were color catchers and Retayne!!
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