We plan to move soon, and my very first quilt is now ready to wash, dry, and pack away. I am so very proud of it! It is a very beginner pattern (Yellow Brick Road), a brightly colored collage of batiks, my favorites. How do I wash this beautiful quilt and keep the blues, greens, reds, purples, fuschias,oranges, yellows, etc. from bleeding into and onto each other? Any and all suggestions are appreciated. Thanks!

If you did not prewash use color catchers and lots of them. I think there is also an additive you can put in the wash water, someone else will come up with that.:)

I use cold water, color sheets and easy on the dryer if I'm worried. I'd make sure it was completely dry before packing it :)

I wash mine with a normal wash on cold (although here in the summer the water is warm), regular detergent and several color catchers. So far, knock wood, I haven't had any problems. And dry in the dryer on low.

I use 1 cup vinegar to each load - mine have never bled! Knock on wood.

I do this when washing new fabric also, and again when washing the finished quilt.

Vinegar is very cheap, I buy the 2 gallon bulk pack at Costco or Sams Club and they are about $3.

If you do have some fabric that bleeds, don't dry it!!! You can often get bleed out by washing with synthrapol,but once you dry it, the bleed is set.

I'm crazy. I wash my quilts with hot water and toss them in a dryer until they are all dry. After that..I never worry about them again. =) I do throw in a color catcher or two if I'm worried about the colors running. Surprisingly..I've never had one problem.

I use Orvus Soap (found at feed stores or Tractor Supply)!

If you used baiks .. and did not prewash or test for bleeding.. Wash with Synthopol!!! You can get it at your LQS or online.
If you have scraps you could pre- test the scraps to see if you have any issues.

vinegar will not make a difference with batiks=
pretty much all batiks bleed to a point- there is always excess dye---that's why it is ALWAYS best to prewash batiks- to remove the excess dye- they are hand dyed and seldom rinsed completely
vinegar only sets the color on acid dyes----the dyes used in wools-
not the dyes used on our cottons.
you can use Retayne- follow instructions closely= also color catchers are a good idea
i would use Synthropol also----synthropol in the water keeps fugative dyes from getting on other fabrics- keeps them in the water to rinse away

Visit Dharma Trading Company- there is lots of instructions- and all the products needed to dye fabrics- (and retain the colors) in dyed fabrics....they are a very good resource.