How to sort colors for washing fabric
 

I was the lucky recipient of 4 bags of quilting cottons. They used to belong to a quilter, when she died her sister got them. Now the sister is moving and can't take them, so I got them.

They had a slight odor to them so I've decided to wash them all. I have a lot of blue, white and red. But just a small quantity of green, less of purple and a tiny bit of yellow. It will be easy to wash all the blues, reds and whites in their own loads. What would you recommend I do with the green, purple and yellow? Teeny tiny loads or would they be ok mixed with another color? If so, which color?

For the record, I'm using color catchers in each load and a sacrificial white cotton piece too.

Thanks.

Depending o how dark they are, I would put the darker greens and purples with the blue. Pale colors and yellow with the white on cold

I agree with cjsews. I tend to put reds and blacks together, blues and greens, etc but I also check for lights/darks. I (knock on wood) have never had an issue.

Thanks. I had to make 2 loads out of the blue, there was so much!! I can add the dark greens and purples to the 2nd load. I finished the red already and unfortunately the whites too. I'll make a small load out of the yellows and lighter greens.

I am so excited by this fabric. I just removed the whites from the dryer and measured them as I folded. I have more than 10 yards. Based on that, I think I was given at least 50 yards of fabric! Wow, what a lucky day.

Use a color catcher. I get the ones made by Johnson. I use to sort laundry until I now have to use the apt laundromat that wants lots of colors. Never have had a problem.

If there are fairly small amounts I just wash in the kitchen sink.

I always wash reds and blacks separately. Then combine all whites and neutrals. I put blues and greens together. Lastly combine Browns, oranges and yellows together.

Thanks for all the good advice! I washed, dried and folded 78 yards of fabric today!! No color problems at all.

Wow! Christmas came early!

WOW, what a great present your sister gave you. My sister used to give me her fabrics that she didn't think she would use but thought I might. Then when she passed away I inherited all her fabrics. Regrettably, shortly after that we had to move and downsize from a 3 bedroom house, where I had 2 sewing rooms loaded with fabrics to a 2-bedroom apt.; so I had to purge nearly 50% of the fabrics; however, I gave them to my quilter friend, who then passed on what she didn't think she could use to another quilter who made quilts for children in local hospitals, so I'm sure it will not go to waste. Also, when making a family reunion quilt, incidentally in honor of my sister, I called my friend to ask if she still had a particular fabric, as I thought it had enough yardage to make a backing, it did and she told me she had set it apart as she thought I might use it some day. She's a very good friend.