Why wash your new fabric in HOT water?
 

I do not understand why any of you wash your new fabrics in hot water. You would not wash woolens in hot water, because obviously they shrink, and you surely would not wash a finished quilt in hot water, so why wash the fabric in hot water in order to shrink it. It makes no sense to me.

The premise being you want the fabric to shrink as much as possible BEFORE using it in a quilt so that the resultant quilt shrinks less upon completion. Personally I'm not overly concerned about fabric shrinkage as I use 100% cotton batting that is NOT pre-washed. Therefore, when I wash the completed quilt it's the batting that is shrinking more so than the fabric creating the crinkled look that I love.

Then there is also the desire for any fabric bleeds happening before construction as well.

It's been my experience that if a fabric is a 'bleeder', it will bleed, regardless of the water temp.

I agree with NJ Quilter---to get as much shrinkage done before cutting the fabric, and to test for bleeders. I also prewash my cotton batting for the shrinkage too as I prefer a less crinkly look.

Because I prefer the flatter look and wish to avoid surprises later.

I also want to know - approximately - what the finished size will still be after the completed item has been washed.

I feel that it is prolonged agitation that makes fabric look "used" more than dunking it - so that is why I soak it first - and then give it a very quick gentle wash. I also do not crowd the dryer when drying the fabric.

Also - if I had a baby quilt and my little one had just anointed it with pee, poop, or puke - or kool-aid - or blood - my first thought would be to get it washed - and I would not be thinking about color catchers, Synthrapol, or any other special treatment

I do shudder when I think of bleach, though.

Where did you get that idea?

I wash a finished quilt and fabric in hot water or rather the hot water setting. I tested the temp of a load of hot water and it isn't no where as hot as what comes out of the house faucets. The washer manual states the pre set temp of the hot water setting no matter the temp the water heater is set to.

I don't wash my fabrics in hot water but other believes that it sets the color. I am not a pre-washer and especially now with color catchers.

Again ... why would you wash a quilt in hot water? What do you think that hot water can do that warm water and soap cannot accomplish? I'm not referring to your machine setting ... I'm talking about the actual water temperature.

When I make baby quilts I prewash in hot and then wash the completed quilt in hot water prior to giving them away. I do it so I can tell the recipient that if baby has an "oopsie" that the quilt is designed to survive a hot water wash and in fact has already gone through a couple.

I did the same with the quilts I made for my DH's grandmother, who is permanently bedridden. Things happen (food spills, and other) and I wanted to make sure her quilts were going to hold up to lots of hot washes.

I don't pre-wash my fabrics, but I'm assuming that those who do, want the fabrics to do all the shrinking they're going to do.