Pre-washing with color catcher
11-01-2013, 05:36 PM
#1
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 4,393
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!
11-01-2013, 05:44 PM
#3
Power Poster
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.
! 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.
11-01-2013, 06:54 PM
#5
Power Poster
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.)
11-02-2013, 04:49 AM
#6
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Florida
Posts: 5,901
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.
11-02-2013, 05:29 AM
#8
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: West central Illinois
Posts: 2,919
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.
11-02-2013, 05:49 AM
#9
Power Poster
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Southern California
Posts: 19,131
Originally Posted by toverly
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.
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!!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
