Am I the only one with this problem?
 

When I made a lap sized rag quilt and washed it to rag it up per instruction my washing machine plugged up and DH had to unplug it. We have a Whirlpool Duet front loader that normally doesn't give me problems.

Am I doing something wrong?

I would like to make some more rag quilts and bought a die for it but I am hesitant to start just thinking about washing the rag quilt and having the same problem.

The one rag quilt I made had three layers of flannel.

I have heard a lot of people say to take them to a Laundromat to wash and dry so your machine isn't clogged up. I washed mine in my top load machine and had no problems.

I use cotton fabric with thin batting in the middle. It hasn't been a problem with the washing machine but I usually go to the laundromat and use the large industrial machine and dryer for the rag wash.

Anyone plug up the laundromat machine? LOL OK It seems to be the way to go. Can I do more then one rag quilt in the big machine?

The laundromats by me actually have posted signs that rag quilts/rugs are not permitted in their machines. :shock:

I took mine to the laundromat, too, for the first couple of washes and dryings.

So where should one take them?

You can brush them to loosen and fluff the "rag" ends, before you wash. That eliminates a lot of the loose stuff that clogs the washer and dryer.

There is an alternate solution but it takes a lot of elbow grease:

Spritz the seam lightly with water and brush it out using the chenille brush. Repeat until you are satisfied.

Hmmm I wonder why?

I have a top load machine and have made a fair number of rag quilts.

I set the machine to presoak, it does not drain on this cycle. Once the cycle is complete I run a strainer through the of the water to remove as much of the thread scraps as possible. I reset the cycle to the beginning to let it agitate some more and repeat. I do this 3-4 times in total. It may seem like overkill, but I get a huge amount of thread scraps. Then when I put it into he dryer, I clean the lint trap several times.

I would not wash a rag quilt at home if we had a septic tank. I cannot imagine the harm all that lint would cause.

If it's a smallish quilt you can wash it in a zippered pillow case. You can also try a mesh bag. with the pillow case, it will take several washings because there's not as much agitation. I would never try it in a domestic front loader. not enough water or agitation.

There have been previous post about taking them to the laundromat at least the first time washing. There is an abundance of fuzz created by all the snipping of the edges. Lucky you had a husband to resolve the plumbing problem.

Mine go to the laundromat! I won't do them in our washer or dryer.

I've had no problem washing them in a top load washer, but I clean it out pretty good after the quilt is washed and I empty the lint filter in the dryer several times while drying the quilt. I also check the vent (that goes to the outside of the house) at least once a year.

I always take them outside & shake, shake, shake them ALot before putting in the washer, then when they finish the wash cycle I take them out & shake them again before the rinse cycle. Again before going into the dryer. Empty the lint trap every 15 minutes & usually take them out & shake them 2-3 times before dry. Large ones I have taken to the Laundromat, I still take them out & shake them before going into the dryer & a couple times before dry. I don't know about a front loader-- have never heard anything but problems with them so don't own one

I put mine in the dryer for 10-15 minutes before I wash them. The dryer gets a fair amount of lint. Then I wash them twice, skimming the threads off the top of the water often during the wash cycle. Then back to the dryer, emptying the lint trap ever 5-10 minutes.

I often take mine to the laundrymat, but I put it through the dryer first to rid it of as much of the lint as I can.

No problems with my front loader and dryer;I didn't do anything special and they handled them fine. I was quite surprised, and relieved! Now all these comments have me thinking it was just a lucky "one off" for me and I'm wondering if I'll be so chirpy about it all the next time around!!!!

I don't have a dryer (no need) so when I made a rag quilt I just banged it against the wooden fence and that loosened and removed most of the fibres.

Take the quilt to a laundromat.

Ohh, not that's interesting...hope ours doesn't do that anytime soon.

The laundromat here has an assistant on duty during open hours. Rag quilts are okay but they have to go in the industrial washer and dryer which holds 3 large washer loads, no matter how small they are. I always take a blanket or comforter to wash along with the rag quilt.

Not all laundrymats have the same drain systems or piping so I'm sure its due to getting plugged up. It may be that the one mentioned here is ran by a quilter so when they saw the clog they knew what caused it. You can also try washing them in a tightly meshed laundry bag or a large pillow case. You need something large enough that the quilt can move around in and do its fraying thing. I've washed some in my front loader and it didn't clog up but my little grand daughters glove sure did the trick.

I always take mine to the laundromat to wash and dry the first time, because their machines are said to have bigger lint traps, and I have never had an attendant to say I could not wash them there. I always take paper towels and wet them, then clean out the washer to remove any lint/threads left behind. I wouldn't want anybody to get that lint in their wash. I wash and dry the second time at home, and clean the washer afterward, and empty the lint trap on the dryer a few times as the quilt dries. I know someone who always washes her rag quilts at home, and does not have a problem. Not sure why your washer plugged up, but I think I read several posts of something like that happening a few years back, when they washed their rag quilt at home.

I like that!

And remember, NOTHING is a problem - it's a "challenge."

Never made a rag quilt and have no desire to do so. Based on what you're describing I'd go to a laundry mat for the washing.

I saw a sign like this the other day when I went to pick up a friend at the Laundromat..

I'm sure my friends who own a laundromat would LOVE if I washed and dried a rag quilt there. (Said with much sarcasm!)

I used to have a GE washer, top loader with a 'filter tray'. It was THE BEST machine I've ever used. Unfortunately it died a few years ago (I'd had it for about 40 years-they just don't make things like they used to LOL but I do still have the dryer). The filter tray in the top would catch everything that went through the washer as the water would recycle and go into the filter. I had to empty it often, but never had an issue with the drain clogging. They don't make these machines any longer. Never keep the good products; just sell us junk. So any others I'd make, yes, they'd get their first wash in the large machine at the Laundromat. You're lucky you didn't have to call a plumber.

One year I made a rag quilt for a gift. Of course my sewing projects waited til the end. So on xmas eve with 22 people coming, our main drain plugged up. Xmas morning I had to pay premium price and they came, dug up part of the driveway and cleaned it out. If your washer got plugged up you were lucky. I managed to plug up the washer felting some wool. Burned up the pump. From now on I felt wool in a large pot on the stove.
Rag quilts to the laundromat. Actually I don't do them anymore for that reason. Don't despair. You can still use your dies by laying a plain piece of flannel (for the back) batting for the filling, plain piece of flannel for the top. Then put your die cut pieces on top 1 piece leave a little between them in a nice even spacing up and down. Now cut a smaller square and clip the edges. Lay that piece in the centers of your larger blocks. Stitch around each square. Then bind. Much less flannel to fray. Fastest quilt of all time.[ATTACH=CONFIG]534871[/ATTACH] That is Miss Daisy, one of her favorite quilts.

I have always been told to go to a Laundromat to wash rag quilts so that's what I've done. The bigger, commercial machines seem to handle the lint.

I've made several rag quilts (lap size or smaller) and never had a problem, but the last one I did made a big mess and kept shedding. I've come to the conclusion that it must be the type of flannel, that some sheds worse than others. Unfortunately, there's no way to tell before washing. I've used good flannels and inexpensive one, and there's no rhyme or reason...

This is a good idea, keep the kids or the grandkids busy for hours. :)

This is what I do except I dry in dryer between spritzing and empty lint catcher several times and shake shake shake and then wash in top loader. So far so good.

Do they have a sign that says no rag quilts or raveling items allowed in regular size washers and dryers?

I have a top load washer and I have had no problem. Cross fingers. I am sorry that cause so much trouble.

Since we know the lint problem these create, isn't it irresponsible taking them to a laundromat? It's messing up someone else's machine instead of our own. I'm not comfortable with this.

Washed mine and had to buy a new machine. never again. It was homespun fabric so it really ragged. lol

I'd say your screen name is appropriate for this topic.