How would you wash this?
 

I'm in the midst of hand quilting a queen size quilt. Part of it brushed against the fireplace hearth and got a smudge on it. I wiped it off the best I could with a damp washcloth, but there is still a faint dark stain there. Now what? I don't typically launder my hand quilted quilts, as I think the stitching is more vulnerable than machine quilting. So I would rather not have to wash the whole thing, but am not sure how to get the stain out without leaving a watermark or having issues with getting soap out of it. Any ideas?

I have a number of hand quilted quilts and I use RetroClean. It's fantastic stuff. You can get it on Amazon.
I hope you'll show us the quilt when you're finished. I love hand quilting.

I have hand quilted several quilts. One queen size and then smaller ones. I wash them in the washer in cool and dry in the dryer. I’ve never had a problem with them. Funny story - the oldest grandson was a little boy and came to visit and I covered him with that queen size quilt and told him I made it and hand quilted it. I don’t think he knew what that even meant. He said “wow grandma - it looks boughten” which I decided to take as a complement. He is almost 21 now.

There are a lot of spot removers out there. Maybe take it to a cleaners and ask them for help. I too wash my hand quilted quilts in the washing machine. My washer does not have the center agitator.

Perhaps it would help someone to know what the smudge is made from? Is it burned, or just charcoal? Were there any pine resins on the hearth? Just some thoughts. Marcia

I am a hand quilter and use my quilts on a daily basis. They do not get rough treatment but they are not overly protected either. I put them through the washer and the dryer and they are holding up quite well. I would spot that stain with Dawn, let it set for a few minutes and put it in the washer if it were me dealing with this. If there are oils in whatever that is, Dawn will address that. I would not take it to a dry cleaner. How would you have handled this stain if it had been on a piece of clothing made from the same fabric? The fact of hand quilting is an aside--my opinion. It's all thread, just applied in a different manner. (I'm assuming the quilt is made of "cotton", not a delicate fabric such as silk or velvet.)
PS--I do not use fabric softener on my quilts--neither liquid or sheets. I'd rather rinse everything out of them and leave them "clean".

Quilts I make or own are actually used and loved (not hidden in a drawer) and get washed (sometimes on delicate) in the washer and dryer. Unwashed bedding is unsanitary. Dry cleaning is expensive and smells bad. If your hand piecing won’t hold up to being washed every now and then you need to work on your technique or upgrade your fabric and notions. The only bedding I own that doesn’t get washed at home is a bulky down comforter that won’t fit in my machines. That gets laundered (not dry cleaned) at the cleaners. I just washed and dried a hand-pieced and quilted quilt made in the 1950s by one of my Mom’s relatives. It did just fine. I held my breath a little, but it did just fine.

You might try oxiclean on it.

I would soak it in a gentle cleaner in my washing machine (top-loading, will fill completely), then rinse and spin. NO agitation!