illinois

As to the bathtub way of laundering a quilt. Is there any reason to not use the washer to do this? Put it in the washer, fill as you would if using the bathtub but do NOT let it agitate. Use your hands to squish it around and then be able to drain the water and let it spin the rest. I don't have the hand strength to get the water out of one in the bathtub method so am inquiring if there is any reason to not let the washer be the container for doing this. Of course, you would need a top loading machine, not the front ones that are on the market nowadays.

I pretty much ruined a comforter that my mother had hand-carded the wool batt. I didn't know that until I asked her why it was now flat! It might be that you should have this piece dry-cleaned instead of washing it. Do some investigating. Interesting story of how your grandmother cleaned quilts. Glad you inquired just for the heritage!

Seb58

Good idea... However one would need a large capacity washer with a motor strong enough to spin such a heavy item...
To take the water out of the quilt if I use the bathtub method, I intend to use a cutting board to mimic the paddles washer women used... That ought to be funny 🤣

suern3

It is really hard to wash a quilt in a bathtub, in my opinion. I have done this for a couple of older, hand-made quilts. If you have two people it really helps. They get incredibly heavy as they soak up water and I worried about stretching or tearing the fabric. Since yours is not pieced, might not be a concern. After I had washed mine, I read an idea that I think might be helpful and that is to use a plastic laundry basket to place the quilt in when you are ready to move the quilt out of the water. I think you would place the quilt in the basket and then squeeze out the water and move from the tub. I am picturing using this between washing and rinsing and when you are done. Hope this makes sense

Seb58

Thanks for the tip suern! It makes perfect sense, it would be like using a giant colander!

themadpatter

As long as you don't do a lot of scrubbing or agitation, the wool should do ok. One thing to be aware of is that wool will also felt from changes in temp of the water between wash and rinse. The recommendation when washing wool is to have the water at room temperature.

If I were washing this, I would have a flat sheet ready to use to move the quilt out of the tub. Never lift that baby while it's wet withput something underneath to support it. I'd be afraid that sateen would be too weak to tske the strain and would tear. That's the other reason I am not advising using a washer of any type. Also, I would soak it in whatever solution you are using for at least a full day before I did anything else. There will probably be a lot of dirt in the water, but don't worry about that. Whatever detergent or soap you use will keep it suspended in the water. When you want to go from wash to rinse, pull the plug and let it drain for at least an hour. Then gently press it to remove the majority of the wash solution. When you fill the tub, make sure you do not let the water run directly onto the quilt, as that is enough to felt the wool where the water is hitting it.

Another thing no one has covered yet that the rear end of a sheep is a gross place! So I wouldn't worry too much about any puppy products and the filling. It will wash out just like the sheep stuff did when that fleece was fresh off the sheep. You are more likely to have problems getting it off the cover than the wool batting.

Good luck! I wish we lived closer together, I'd help you with this- I love a wool related challenge!

vschieve

What about Woolite in tap water to wash it in? And yes, I have washed many large items such as a quilt in the bathtub simple because you can see more of it at once, and it spreads out more, not as crunched as i a washer, even a jumbo size tub. I have also dried large items by hanging or draping it over a pick up truck bed. Of course the bed would have to be washed first, and something should be under the quilt like a sheet, but in the summer when the temps are high enough, we have found this to be a quicker way to dry.

Seb58

themadpatter thanks for the advice! I didn't know about what causes wool to felt!!! You have given me a lot to think about and I'm definitely doing it as soon as the weather turns sunny and warm again!
And that is very sweet of you to offer your help! Had you been closer, I would definitely have taken up the offer!

vschieve Of course Woolite! That is brilliant! As for the quick drying in the summer, I'm afraid that the climate in Burgundy, France is not as hot as in Texas lol

Quilter Grandma

I have laid quilts on grass in my backyard. The chlorophyll from the grass helps get rid of
smells and the sun helps air and clean it also.