Ziggysmom

If the laundryomat that you go to doesn't have dryers with a choice of heat temps. Chances are the equipment isn't up to date. Find a different laundromat.

susanwilley

I throw my quilts in the dryer. Have never had a problem. They come out cozy and fluffy. Makes you just want to curl up in them.

winia

I would not put the quilt in a commercial dryer. I would bring
it home and spread it out someplace and let it try naturally.
Commercial dryers are extremely hot, and I would be
concerned that it would shrink it terribly.

plmsmith

I wash and dry at home ( have a huge washer and dryer) as for the antiqued look I do iron and use heavy starch and I mean almost straight starch to crisp it back up

Mamia

With your white background you may want to put in a couple of
color catchers to prevent any colors from bleeding into the white.
I would also wash in cold water. You could also partially dry then take home to finish air drying.

FroggyinTexas

Ditto! The commercial dryers/driers are fine. When I've been a real hurry, I dry on hot and nothing bad has happened. I'm pretty sure the machine is just as safe as an outdoor clothesline (which I would love to have), considering the number of birds in the neighborhood. froggyintexas

Jeanne Fauss

I am now binding a kingsize quilt too and had the same question. However, my two colors are wine and white. I have been told to wash it with a color grabber to insure the red won't run. I prewashedric the fab, but plan to use this product to make sure. I can't find it anywhere. Is it sold by a product name?

Sierra

Ooooh, I always wash my material in very hot water before using it -- one bad experience of running colors! Yes, if you haven't washed the fabric before, use color grabbers just in case.... But, I always wash after I'm done. one end was probably on the floor while I worked on the other and I want it to be clean! Also, it brings out the threads that need clipping (after I've spent big time already clipping!!!!).

DON'T use a top loading agitator machine! or if you must, use it on "delicate" setting only. It is too rough (just think of the jerking that occurs). My happy day was when my old machine gave out and I got to buy a front loader. Better in every way.

The advice to reposition the quilt in the dryer every 10 minutes or so is so important! Otherwise you'll have "wet" spots that never got to the surface. Don't use "hot", use "medium".

I find that if I don't use a dryer my quilts don't fluff up like I want them to.... they have an unfriendly stiffness. One more reason to wash and dry the quilts.

I have a daughter who is a "neat freak" (also one child has allergies) and she washed the quilts I made my grandkids every other week on regular in an agitating machine. After 6 years serious wear became a problem. Hey, that doesn't sound so bad, does it? ;)

FroggyinTexas

There are several color catchers. Look in the section where laundry detergents are sold. WalMart has a couple of different brands. The one I use is SHOUT color catcher. It's in a red box. froggyintexas

Kayaker26

I just washed my first one before I gave it away AND I loved it even more. I washed it in my home machine, on delicate, dried it on med heat ran it through twice! Good luck!