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Dry Cleaners!! No other way.

Maybe when you do wash it if you put a clean tennis shoe or a tennis ball in the dryer with it it won't ball up as bad. I have read and heard that the tennis ball works. And I have thrown in an old tennis shoe (clean one) with big loads of laundry sometimes to keep it from getting so tangled up.
I agree with a baby detergent or Woolite.

MANY years ago when I 1st started quilting (before the days of too many laundromats), I read an article about washing quilts & have used this.

Using a mild soap, wash them in a bath tub, agitating them by GENTLY pushing them up & down. Drain & push water out (don't "wring"), repeat w/rinse water several times. Then lay on a sheet w/another sheet on top in the yard to dry.

Good thing there are laundromats now thou, as NO WAY could I get down on these 77 yr. old knees :cry:

I would consider using "Ensure" soap available at many quilt shops. I would also add "Retane" in your wash to prevent unknown fabrics from running. Dry on very low setting, re-adjusting in dryer as needed to a slightly damp feel and then hang out to dry in the shade if possible....
Large washer/dryer available in laudromats would be my choice as well.

It's beautiful.

Good luck

if you go to the laundry mat take a rag and wipe out the inside of the washer.
I am not a fan of dryer drying my quilts. Can you rig up a temporary clothsline? Love to line dry my quilts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nanna-up-north

I'm sewing the binding on my granddaughter's king size wedding quilt so I'm thinking about how to wash and dry it before I send it to her. It is huge..... 124" x 124" and whenever I've washed a quilt in my washer (cold, gentle setting) and dried it in the dryer (cool) the quilt balls up and I have to readjust it several times. I figure I'll have to go to a laundramat and use a jumbo sized washer but How do I dry it? I'd have to stand at the dryer and readjust the quilt a million times. I don't have a clothesline outside and did I say it's huge?
ps.... any suggestions on soap? I think the Tide I usually use would be too harsh.
Thanks for your suggestions.

I only go to the laundromat as the tubs on most home machines are just not big enough. I also dry at the same place, however I only use cold water wash, and LOW temp drying. It ususally takes about and hour to dry the quilt this way, but it minimizes excess shrinkage. I usually watch the drum the entire time, (well it is boring I admit) and stop to readjust if it looks like its getting balled up. I use only cotton batting and fabrics and this gives me the vintage soft look I am looking for. Clotheslines outside will leave stretch marks across the quilt distort it from the wet weight. BTW I use dreft for baby wash but there may be other stuff out there thats better. Stay away from woolite as I was told years ago from a fiber artist that it has a bleaching agent.
At least I don't have to wash a quilt that often!!!! :-D

Quote:

Originally Posted by Great-great granny

Then of course laying it out may get unwanted deposits that would necessitate another washing. LOL Im 72 with 2 bad knees, I couldn't either. :lol:

Quote:

Originally Posted by patdesign

Quote:

Originally Posted by Great-great granny

Then of course laying it out may get unwanted deposits that would necessitate another washing. LOL Im 72 with 2 bad knees, I couldn't either. :lol:

Hi Pat, that's why I included "w/another sheet on top" in the yard to dry.

Also, noticed some on here mentioned 'hang over a line, shower, etc". Quilts are so heavy when wet, if hung over something, it could make the quilt tend to end up distorted & out of shape.

I agree.A laundry mat for sure.

The quilt is beautiful. Why are you washing it? Do you wash every quilt when finished?