Getting ready to cut up some thrift store shirts for a quilt and am wondering should I prewash the shirts. Kinda think that I should but wouldn't they have already be washed and shrunk?

Sheila

YES!!!!! You don't know what germs, pet hair, and what-not are on them.

Good point! Dang it, really wanted to get sewing now, LOL!

Thrift store stuff goes straight to the washer at my house, and a nice hot dryer.

I prewash almost everything before cutting it.

Minimizes unpleasant surprises later.

Things I buy at the thrift store never make it past the laundry room until they have been washed and dried.

Yes always wash first. Never know were it has been. Plus who is touching it. Plus you never buy used shoes from thrift stores.

Deffinatelly YES!!!

Ditto ... straight from my car to the washer when I come home.

Likewise, even new fabric goes right to the washer.

This way I know everything in my home has been washed and is ready to cut when the notion strikes me!

Me Too! Out of the bag, straight into the washer....

I have a sanitize cycle. Hot, hot water. then I starch, then I dry. I then 'deconstruct' down to the large pieces and cut into charms, 1/4 charms (2 3/4" squares) and 2.5" strips.

Yep, that's a definite resounding YES!!!

Great fabric source!!

I would wash them & put a little Lysol in with the stuff. (I do that after camping)

Always wash anything that comes from thrift store.
Bed Bugs can and do travel. Need I say any more.

I wash everything I bring home from the thrift store. Bet they'll make a great quilt.

I work in a thrift store, & Im telling you, you really need to wash it, just trust me on this one!

Yes, absolutely, I always wash everything I buy in thrift stores, in dept stores, at yard sales, anywhere.

The thrift stores don't have the facilities to wash everything that comes into them. Actually they request that you wash everything before bringing them in.

Most definately pre wash any and all clothing from thrift stores.

YESSSSS!!!!! Who knows who or what has been touching them in those stores!! Always wash them first thing!

I googled "how to clean thrift store clothing" and found numerous ideas.. the one that seemed best to me was to "use an enzyme cleaner along with your detergent". Others said to use vinegar with the detergent, then rinse the items 5 times! There doesn't seem to be an easy way unless you just wash in hot water and put them in the sun to dry.. hope this helps!

YES!!!! One word: bedbugs! :shock:

I always wash the shirts I get. Then I use a seam ripper to take them apart. I remove the buttons and save them.

Prewash anything that comes from a thrift shop, just saying...

Before I even read the replies, I would say YES!

YES!!! anything you pick up in a thrift shop should be washed as soon as you get it home- you never know what germs/bugs may be in anything used- sometimes people have boxes of clothes/fabrics in their garages for years before donating them-
everything should be washed before being used-for safety sake

Mine too. Can't stand the thrift store smell on them.

yes

You should always wash anything that you bring home as soon as you walk through the door. Those stores can not wash all those clothes, they are just thinking that people would surely wash them before they donate, but you cant be sure of that. There is chance that you could bring critters home in all that stuff. (roachs, bedbugs..). I go straight to the washer before I even take that stuff out of the bag. Just dump it in.

Mine go from the bag directly to the washer!

If you think thrift stores actually have a washer and dryer that they send everything that they recieve into then I would love to shop at your thrift stores because around here they don't have them and wouldn't take the time to do it if they had them. Also even if you think that buying shirts or other items from a department store or a big box chain at a greatly reduced price don't need the same treatment then you have never worked retail at places like that. My DSD works for a major chain department store and you would be greatly suprized by what people bring back and in what condition.

I think you should wash them. I wash mine in hot water for germs

Whether I buy at a thrift store or yard sale mine goes straight from the bag to the washer. After drying, I cut the seams out and save them to tie my tomatoe plants, beans and such. Also save the buttons.

I always wash the thrift store fabric to remove whatever nasties may be left in them...even if they're clean they've probably been washed in scented detergent that I'm very sensitive to.

I wash all thrift store finds.

I ALWAYS wash anything I bring from the thrift store. If it can't be washed, I don't buy it. I guess I'm a fanatic about the germs, etc.

DEFINITELY, prewash...dont assume that someone did.

OMG (gosh)...in hot water definitely!
Johanna in WI

Yes, wash first, always.