To wash or not wash precut strips?
#12
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: In the desert,US
Posts: 123
I have put pre-cuts in a pot of boiling water few a few minute, dump in the sink and hand wash. Then I lay them out flat to dry, usually outside in the shade. A little more work, but less worries later.....and some of those batiks bled like crazy.
#13
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,857
If you are concerned about the color bleeding, wash one piece to check. Even if it bleeds, I would be more likely to use similar colors and then a color catcher when done. ONCE, ONCE I washed some precuts. The amount of raveling, tangling and ironed that resulted had me pulling out my hair!
#15
I have to prewash all fabrics due to medical conditions. Use a gentle cycle on washing machine. I do a lot of scrap quilting & have aquired fabrics from other quilters that are odd shapes, I prewash them on gentle cycles. I also use color catchers. All above comments very useful.
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 548
I don't prewash anything, I wash the completed quilt in cold water with a few color catchers before gifting. Never had an issue but I'm not a fan of batiks either so I haven't made anything with that type of fabric in years.
#17
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Dallas area, Texas, USA
Posts: 3,050
Nanachar, I'm glad you got the info from the company that makes them. It makes perfect sense to me. I don't often use precuts, but would not wash them because I wouldn't want to do it by hand, and I'm sure they'd fray out too much to use if I put them in the washer. My high efficiency washer ties things into knots
#18
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Chula Vista CA
Posts: 7,401
I wash my pre-cuts because of the chemicals that bother my finger tips and finger nails. I have used the garment bag in the washing machine - it was okay but a royal pain taking the piece out of the bag. Not much in the raveling department - just tangled. My chosen method is to put them in the kitchen sink or a washing tub with a bit of detergent and then rinse and place in a salad spinner. I bought a laundry rack to hang them on to dry. One can use a plastic hanger too - but I like the rack because when I am putting strips I use it to keep them organized. If I have washed the 5 inch precuts - those I just lay out on a towel on the kitchen table - the don't take long to dry and I have used the iron to speed the process a bit.
#20
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Delaware
Posts: 50
Thank you all for your comments! I have been quilting for almost 40 years but have just started to use some precuts. I especially liked the comments about using a salad spinner after sink washing, should I Decide to wash, first. Who knew a salad spinner could show up in my quilting supplies
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