I made a quilt for my son. He got part of it wet and the red ran in spots. I had washed it all before using it. What can I wash to get out the stain? The biggest problem is that he has autographs on it. I am trying to be extra careful not to remove the sharpie autographs. I made him a St. Louis Cardinals baseball quilt.
Thanks for your help.
Tammy in MI

try sythropol, it should get the red out...use cold water and short cycle. the sharpy should not be affected

You could also try soaking it in Clorox 2 "not clorox the bleach". I have done that when I have had dye from something end up on another garment in the wash. It is pretty gentle and works quite well.

good advice on here

Synthrapol is available at many quilts shops and online from places like Dharma Trading and ChemPro. It's quite inexpensive, and a small bottle is enough. Synthrapol is designed to suspend unset dye particles in water so they can be washed away. It shouldn't affect the Sharpie. It may take several washings, though, to take all the red out, and I would not dry it in the dryer or in any heat for fear heat might set the red dye in the bleed.

If Synthrapol doesn't get it all out, I would probably make up a strong solution of Clorox 2 and dab it on the affected areas, let it stay there for awhile, then wash. If absolutely desperate, I might try the same with diluted bleach (but that gets pretty dangerous).

Thank you so much for the suggestions. This is a one in a lifetime quilt. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Tammy in MI

Oh, and I would always wash this quilt in future with Synthrapol so no new bleeds occur.

Do I have to give it back to him then? ;) I might go to jail if he gets stuff on it again...Thank you. I will make sure to get an extra bottle and not let him wash it anything else. He does love it though. Didn't want to ruin it himself by washing it.

Do I have to give it back to him then? ;) I might go to jail if he gets stuff on it again...Thank you. I will make sure to get an extra bottle and not let him wash it anything else. He does love it though. Didn't want to ruin it himself by washing it.