I'm trying to figure out what is the best way to wash a finished quilt. What brands of soap does everyone use?

woolite

Thanks! That's easy enough to find and not expensive!

If the fabrics are not pre-washed, you might want to throw in a dye catcher sheet. You can find htem in the supermarket.

I always use Synthrapol for the first wash. It is widely available online and in quilt shops. Synthrapol suspends dye in the water so it does not settle into other fabrics. That way I do not have to worry about small dye bleeds. If the water colors at all, I continue to use Synthrapol for subsequent washings until there are no more dyes bleeding.

I wash them in my regular laundry soap and dry them in the dryer. That's what my kids will do too. So this way if there are any problems I'll catch them before they get them. :-D

I use my Amway detergent for my HE washer. Just a touch.

I have tie-dyed for many years and Synthrapol always does a great job. I use many heavy concentrations of light and dark dyes, and the Synthrapol keeps them from muddying up the final results. Good stuff and a little goes a long way.

That is what I do. Although I do not have children, I do give some of my quilts away, and this is a good way to see how they will stand up to it.

Thank you all for your responses. I will give both Woolite and Synthrapol a try!