Question about salvaging smoke damaged fabric
#21
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,430
Another way to keep your fabric from fraying is to snip a small triangle from each corner of the fabric. It if frays, it will only fray a small bit until it reaches the corner where you have clipped. I clip it when I wash my fabric when it comes into the house and I know than that I have, indeed, washed it.
#24
Of course, always ask, but in general, with apartments, insurance will cover the physical building, not the contents. Did you have personal insurance to cover your contents? It is very inexpensive. I would wash what I could and deal with any strings as needed. Pinking shears help before washing.
#26
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 1,097
I like this idea! I have lavender blooming right now. I'm thinking of washing my sheets this way. Do you filter out the lavender sprigs when pouring into the wash?
#27
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,369
It does fray a bit but I just cut the frayed ends off when cutting my pieces. Baking soda is a great deodorizer; you can add about half a cup in with your detergent or better yet, pre-soak in the washer with it and plain water. Wash on a gentle cycle. You could also use one of those knitted wash bags for smaller lengths.
#28
Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 2
Smoky Fabrics
I agree with the thread about washing in baking soda &/or Oxi-clean. If that doesn't work and you can afford it, (or see if their insurance will cover it....if your fabrics were affected I'm sure your clothes & furniture were affected also),
contact your local dry cleaners about an ozone chamber treatment. About the fraying..I've been pre washing both quilting & fashion fabric for years. For yardage cut each selvage corner diagonally about 1/4" in or if it's a very large piece, fold it into 1 yd lengths, carefully pin along the selvages, then wash & dry. For smaller pieces, I.e. fat qtrs, use a lingerie bag. Good Luck
contact your local dry cleaners about an ozone chamber treatment. About the fraying..I've been pre washing both quilting & fashion fabric for years. For yardage cut each selvage corner diagonally about 1/4" in or if it's a very large piece, fold it into 1 yd lengths, carefully pin along the selvages, then wash & dry. For smaller pieces, I.e. fat qtrs, use a lingerie bag. Good Luck
#30
There are a lot of really good suggestions here for you. When I am in a hurry to prewash fabric I simply clip a very small triangle from each corner (about 1/2") and for some reason that keeps the edges from fraying so much. The suggestions about vinegar are excellent just buy a gallon jug and go to work make sure to keep your receipts and the number of laundry loads you do and a record of the time you have spent in case you can recoup that from insurance.
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sew cornie
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11-19-2011 03:36 PM