To Use Soap or Not to Use Soap. This is the Question
 

Apparently I have some washing issues this week. LOL

I'm prepping some material for a quilted messenger-style bag. I want to prewash the cotton fabric. Would a rinse and spin cycle (no soap) work or should I do a full or delicate cycle with soap?

Many thanks for any/all advice.

Elizabeth

I think it depends on what you your trying to accomplish. Remove dye and shrinkage or just shrinkage? And is the bag something you plan on washing often? With the rinse and spin cycle only some of the sizing may be left in the fabric causing a stiffness which could be a good thing.

I think I want to remove dye and shrinkage. I have no idea how it will be treated and/or washed so I want to take precautions for the user.

When I prewash (which I do with all my fabric) I just toss it in the washer with regular detergent and wash as I would clothes. I do use a perm. press vs a heavy duty cycle though, but not delicate. I also do not use fabric softener. Then I toss in the dryer till it's dry. Again, it's a perm press cycle.

Thanks, NJ Quilter. That's what I thought but I haven't done it for quilts before only clothing.