I love my front loader and there are so many reasons to buy them instead of the top loading ones. I'm surprised though because my daughter does the kids laundry at my house and with those little socks, I would have figured one of those would have been in there. I've had the washer since 12/09 and I could tell right away the water/electric bill went down. It's a great machine and I think Color Catchers do save us a lot of money but now I know I have to be smarter when I use them. I'm glad that you all appreciated my post; I couldn't NOT tell you. That would have been wrong of me to keep it to myself if I can save even one person money and the headaches of a broken washer then I'm happy.

I have been told that a white washcloth will do the same thing a color catcher does. I have not tried it yet so can not say it works....

I trust all of you that are using Color Catchers so devotedly with every wash are finding that they DO come out colored with loose dyes. Because if they don't, if they remain white, there was no need to use them in the first place. Fabric does not mysteriously regain the ability to run once it stops.

By the time my fabrics go into a quilt, they have stopped running...otherwise they don't go into the quilt. It's that simple. http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/s...basic/wink.gif

I love my front loader and will never go back to a top loader. The front loader uses a lot less water, rinses clothes cleaner, and uses less electricity. I have had my machine for 6 years and have used color catchers for about 3 years with no trouble. I usually only use them when I wash fabric before making the quilt not after the quilt is made.

mesh bag is a great idea!

Thanks for the post and the suggestions from other members on alternatives to pinning.

Another front loader devotee here. We bought our first one in 1998 and would probably still have it had it not been for our March floods in 2010. Of course, we bought another front loader.

Good thinking! I will take your advice on that!! Thanks.

Thanks for the advice I use them often

Front loaders also beat clothes with their action and wear them out faster. Would not have one if you gave it to me!

Thanks. My brother has a front loader and since its brand new I sure don't want to mess it up. So pin it to something from now on.. Although I don't think I will pin it to my quilt or clothes. I will keep a wash cloth .. I can just see the pin catching on something else and tearing my quilt.