I wash mine with a couple of towels and detergent in my front loader and dry in dryer. Sometime I will throw in a color catcher. I always use cold water.

I put it in the washer and soak it with reg soap powder, than put it on spin. Fill up the washer with 1 cup of vinegar and let it soak again, than spin. Vinegar sets the color and delutes the suds and doesn't put wear and tear on the quilt. Watch your water color and you will know if it is clean. Soak time is about 30minutes or if I am busy it is when I remember. Never had a problem. 10-20 minutes in the dryer and layed out after to dry.

wow-this computer is crazy slow and un-cooperative this morning- didn't mean double posts :thumbdown:

If it is for a baby especially I wash them. I want all the pesitcides and garbage out. I don't prewash fabric.

If it is for an adult and on a bed that will never touch their skin, I don't bother. i like that new look.

I use Orvus soap. You get it at a "farm" store. It is for shampooing horses and such. In a quilt shop it is expensive, but at Farm and Fleet or such, it is not.

vinegar setting the color is a (false) old wives tale.
only acid dyes are set with vinegar-
acid dyes are not used on cottons.
the addition of vinegar may freshen the water- but it is an unnecessary expense.

Wash and dry and then check for any loose threads.

What is the brand of Color Catchers all of you are using? I don't pre-wash my fabric either & might start using the color catchers. Thanks Ladies.

You are correct about vinegar not affecting the dye, but it can help rinse out the soap residue. The acid dissolves the soap, releasing it from the fibers. It's especially helpful if you have hard water.

But no, it's not necessary. If you want to use it, do so. If you don't, it won't hurt anything. :)

Just another note about vinegar - it is an acid. I use it all the time as a fabric softener, but keep in mind that it can harm your quilt. Even a very dilute acid, such as vinegar, can cause harm if it is allowed to sit on your quilt for too long, or in too high of a concentration. In other words, don't just open your washer and poor vinegar directly onto a quilt (or anything else, for that matter). You only need a little bit, and it is better poored into the water in a full washer rather than poored onto a quilt itself.

I was it with All Free and then dry it in the dryer. That way if there are any issues I will hopefully catch it and can correct it before the recipient gets it.