I have almost finished quilting a white backgroud quilt which has become grubby during the course of quilting. (Mostly because of my cat :hunf: )

I am taking this quilt on holidays with me next Friday to give to my bro. I would really like to wash this quilt before I hand it over. No problems there BUT this weekend its raining, for the first time in 8 months!

My plan is to take it to the laundromat, for the bigger washing machine.

My question: would it be safe to put it in a commercial drier?

The fabric and cotton batting have not been prewashed. I do like the antiquey look that washing gives, but will I ruin the quilt by putting it in the dryer? Its a huge king quilt, and I dont want to end up with a single quilt.

When I wash my quilts, I spread them over my kitchen table and turn the ceiling fan on, dryes in a day.

I'd be afraid the commercial dryers would get too hot. Any way you could set up a system to air dry it inside?

Since I don't have a washer and dryer, I get to go to the Sit-in-Spin quite often. What are you afraid of with the dryers? I've never had a problem, but the one I use always has an attendant on duty. I would use the "warm" setting (not hot) and put in the extra money for the longer drying time. You can also put in a few white or light colored towels for a couple of minutes to see if there is something funky in there that you didn't spot to begin with.

Commercial dryers have 3 temp settings. Cool, warm and hot. Yes, hot is hot, but warm is warm enough.
;)

Even commercial dryers have temp controls. The main thing is to pull the quilt out pretty regular and rearrange it so the part that's on the inside of the bundle gets to the outside too.

I would have no problem using the commercial dryer on a lower heat setting. I dry my quilts about half way. I lay the damp quilt on my bed with the ceiling fan on and flip it over when one side starts feeling dry. Then leave it there til it dries completely. Usually takes the whole day.

Thanks for the information. That's good to know. I haven't used commercial dryers so that was one of my concerns.

i made my first quilt in 1976- have made many since then- every single quilt i have made- even the 3 that have taken 'best of show' awards have been thrown into a washer- and then a dryer after i finished the last binding stitch-
even the silk and wool ones-
i ALWAYS wash and dry my quilts- especially the ones i am giving away = expecting the recipient will at some point need to wash and dry it=
if the care instructions are too restrictive chances are it will not be used- because people don't want to A) deal with it, or B) they are afraid to ruin it.

I just recently finished a king sized quilt that I took to the laundramat to wash and dry. I used the lower setting on the dryer and didn't have any problems. Like yours, I hadn't prewashed the fabric and I had to wash it because when I was quilting it my puppy wanted to sit beside me.....

No worries if its all the same fabric...cotton, as you said, should be just fine. I like the antiquey look as well, and always wash my quilts before presenting.

Go ahead...really, it will be fine!! :-)

I really appreciate all the advice given here. I have the same question. Thanks!!!!

I always wash and dry. Rag quilts I always take to the laundromat to wash and use the hot setting on the dryer so it frays up nicely and takes out the lint.

I always wash and dry my quilts completely before gifting. They go in the dryer on a perm press cycle (in my home dryer) as it has a humidstat control and stops drying when the fabric is dry regardless of type of fabric (clothes, bedding, quilts). If it can't stand up to that abuse I don't think I would gift it. I never prewash my batting but generally prewash all my fabric but still haven't noticed any issues.

If you do end up going to a laundromat, do not leave it unattended. It will grow legs and disappear!

I like to make rag quilts... always wash and dry at the laundromat! I can't afford to lose my dryer due to all the lint!

I always wash the quilts I give away. Regular cycle, regular detergent, and dry on low. So far I've not had a problem. Good luck with it, and, can we see a picture?

Yes, after I wash it, I will put up a pic. If you want a sneak peek, its the quilt my cat Chopper was sitting on, in the thread "Who me?" in pictures.

I always wash & dry all of my quilts after I take the last stitch in the binding. Lay it on my glass topped dining table over night to finish drying.

I have taken all my quilts to the laundromat, washed them in the big washer with a stain catcher (almost more important than soap, I think) and then I put it in the dryer. The dryers are generally one temp. I just dry it in increments. I put in a quarter at a time, equal to 8 minutes. It usually takes three quarters - 24 minutes - until I get the quilt almost dry and then I take it home and hang it out on the line. I do this on a breezy day and the quilt poofs up so nice. I have never had a problem.

Try one and see how it works (possibly an older quilt). It should be just fine. Edie

If the laundryomat that you go to doesn't have dryers with a choice of heat temps. Chances are the equipment isn't up to date. Find a different laundromat.

I throw my quilts in the dryer. Have never had a problem. They come out cozy and fluffy. Makes you just want to curl up in them.

I would not put the quilt in a commercial dryer. I would bring
it home and spread it out someplace and let it try naturally.
Commercial dryers are extremely hot, and I would be
concerned that it would shrink it terribly.

I wash and dry at home ( have a huge washer and dryer) as for the antiqued look I do iron and use heavy starch and I mean almost straight starch to crisp it back up

With your white background you may want to put in a couple of
color catchers to prevent any colors from bleeding into the white.
I would also wash in cold water. You could also partially dry then take home to finish air drying.

Ditto! The commercial dryers/driers are fine. When I've been a real hurry, I dry on hot and nothing bad has happened. I'm pretty sure the machine is just as safe as an outdoor clothesline (which I would love to have), considering the number of birds in the neighborhood. froggyintexas

I am now binding a kingsize quilt too and had the same question. However, my two colors are wine and white. I have been told to wash it with a color grabber to insure the red won't run. I prewashedric the fab, but plan to use this product to make sure. I can't find it anywhere. Is it sold by a product name?

Ooooh, I always wash my material in very hot water before using it -- one bad experience of running colors! Yes, if you haven't washed the fabric before, use color grabbers just in case.... But, I always wash after I'm done. one end was probably on the floor while I worked on the other and I want it to be clean! Also, it brings out the threads that need clipping (after I've spent big time already clipping!!!!).

DON'T use a top loading agitator machine! or if you must, use it on "delicate" setting only. It is too rough (just think of the jerking that occurs). My happy day was when my old machine gave out and I got to buy a front loader. Better in every way.

The advice to reposition the quilt in the dryer every 10 minutes or so is so important! Otherwise you'll have "wet" spots that never got to the surface. Don't use "hot", use "medium".

I find that if I don't use a dryer my quilts don't fluff up like I want them to.... they have an unfriendly stiffness. One more reason to wash and dry the quilts.

I have a daughter who is a "neat freak" (also one child has allergies) and she washed the quilts I made my grandkids every other week on regular in an agitating machine. After 6 years serious wear became a problem. Hey, that doesn't sound so bad, does it? ;)

There are several color catchers. Look in the section where laundry detergents are sold. WalMart has a couple of different brands. The one I use is SHOUT color catcher. It's in a red box. froggyintexas

I just washed my first one before I gave it away AND I loved it even more. I washed it in my home machine, on delicate, dried it on med heat ran it through twice! Good luck!

Thanks, I'm on my way to WalMart.

NO NO NO, I would never trust a commercial washer or dryer with a quilt. It does not matter what size it is. You do not know what was put in the machines (greasy work clothes, rags, rugs)and also, the dryers are tooooo HOT.

Does batting need to be washed before using? Would it shrink when washed... am about to put together the quilt top, batting and backing...

Just be sure you use some color catchers with your wash load.
I would use several with such a big quilt.

I would really be afraid of the dryers in a laundromat, too. :?