BeckyPotter

I have a question. Has anyone used vinager to set the colors???? I've used this on red shirts. Plus I use vinager as softner.
Cheap, Cheap.

meanmom

I never prewash my fabric and I just throw mine in the washing machine, a front loader. I throw in a couple of color catchers and wash on the gentle cycle. If I remember to use the gentle cycle. I usually hung mine to dry because they smell so good after hanging outside. It has worked for me so far.I also occasionally throw them in them dryer.

Latrinka

I just wash them on delicate cycle, cold water, then put in dryer for 5-10 minutes, then hang to complete drying.

bigsis63

I wash mine in cold water using some kind of "quilt wash" and then trow them over a bush outside to dry if possible. I try to treat my own quilts with kindness so they last longer and hold up better. They were made with love and so I wash them with love. After I gift them then not my problem althought I do tell the recepient how to wash them for best results. I would use a color catcher for first washing and then more if colors bleed.

Geri B

you are like me, I do not prewash, but I do check any questionable fab with a snip in a cup of HOT water before construction.....anyway....and I also do not wash after completion........not until quilt is actually in need of washing....I air them out every chance I get during the year or run thru air fresh in dryer to remove cat hairs......actually washing cold water with Orvus (at farm stores) and on gentle wash......dry in dryer on med heat for a short time, then air dry completely........no problem. I have never used a color catcher.......

nancyw

I also have a front loader Aand I,ve used color catchers and they work fine. When I bring home fabric from a garage sale I always wash it with two color catchers. The only fabric I prewash.

MaryMo

I am amazed that there are so many different expert opinions on caring for a quilt. I never thought much about it before, just washing them as I would any other bedding .... that is, unless it was already heirloom and old. Thanks for increasing my awareness.

cpcarolyn

Thanks for the question and the answers. My son just gave me his quilt that needed to be repaired and washed.
It is not only dirty but it smells. I didn't make it so I have no idea if fabric was prewashed or not, a friend of his
made it for him. Your answers told me that my game plan was correct. Planning on taking it to the laundrymat to use a front load machine, using color catchers and hanging dry. Its nice to know that I was on the right tract.

maryb119

I wash my quilts using a gentle cycle on the machien and then hanging them outside to dry. I have had good luck doing them this way. I love the fresh smell of line dried bedding.

Tartan

You've got lots of good information here for washing your quilt. The first thing I would do is dampen a white paper towel and rub a little spot in the center of a dark fabric. Choose a non visible spot near the edge. After rubbing, check the paper towel for colour transfer. If you have a lot of colour on the towel you know it is going to bleed. If you have a lot of really dark fabrics and really light fabrics then you will need to be careful. I do as other have said, fill my top loader with a lot of cool water, submerge the quilt with color catchers and hand agitate for a few minutes. I then spin in the washing machine. If after checking for bleeds it is clear I put it into the dryer for a bit. I take it out before completely dry and block it.
You can wash with Synthrapol but it needs a slightly different procedure. Synthrapol keeps loose dye suspended in the wash water instead of depositing on other fabric. Good luck.