Washing Finished Quilts
11-02-2022, 01:46 PM
#22
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 101
I wash my finished quilts on a gentle cycle, and let them air dry. Then I spray with magic sizing and iron them so they feel crisp and new.
Once they’ve been used, I wash and dry them on a gentle cycle.
If I am giving a quilt away, and don’t know how it will be cared for, I might choose a poly batting.
Once they’ve been used, I wash and dry them on a gentle cycle.
If I am giving a quilt away, and don’t know how it will be cared for, I might choose a poly batting.
11-02-2022, 02:22 PM
#23
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: California
Posts: 1,732
I wash mine with my regular detergent. However, I found that not only can fabric bleed, but it can crock too. I didn't worry too much about crocking until it happened to me. That when one fabric sticks on another fabric and sits there sort of stuck together. You can get color transfer just in that one spot where they sort of stick together. Color catchers only catch color from the water in the tub. I don't know if prewashing keeps that from happening because it's such a rare occurance. I don't want to prewash the daylights out of fabric, but I do prewash reds and stitck it wet between some white fabric and leave it there with something heavy on top to see what kind of color transfer might happen.
11-02-2022, 02:48 PM
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Kaua`i
Posts: 616
I prewash all fabrics in hot water with colour catchers and also wash the batting because I don't like crinkly quilts.
Finished quilts are washed in warm or hot water with Orvus Horse soap and a couple of colour catchers for "just in case", and dried in the drier.
A jar of Orvus Horse cleaner will last forever and is waaaaay cheaper than the same thing sold "for quilts"!
Finished quilts are washed in warm or hot water with Orvus Horse soap and a couple of colour catchers for "just in case", and dried in the drier.
A jar of Orvus Horse cleaner will last forever and is waaaaay cheaper than the same thing sold "for quilts"!
Last edited by HouseDragon; 11-02-2022 at 02:51 PM.
11-02-2022, 07:43 PM
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2022
Location: USA
Posts: 378
I wash everything before I make it into any project and I also wash it after I have finished the project. I have 2 service cats and will be getting a service dog in the near future therefore everything gets washed at the laundry and then taken directly to my church/Salvation Army/Toys 4 Tots. Everything has all the cat/dog fur off the articles being washed and given away.
11-03-2022, 09:45 AM
#27
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 9,444
That doesn't really describe "crocking" accurately. Crocking is when the dye can easily transfer just by touching. Ever run your hand over a home dec fabric (happened to me!) and have the dye transfer to your hand? That's crocking. Ever worn a new pair of unwashed jeans only to find your legs are blue at the end of the day? That's crocking. Doesn't have anything to do with getting stuck to other fabrics.
11-04-2022, 03:16 PM
#28
Super Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Ballwin, MO
Posts: 4,230
That name did not ring a bell, but I want and checked and it is Orvus! Thanks for the tip on buying the large size.
11-09-2022, 12:31 PM
#30
Power Poster
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Mableton, GA
Posts: 11,230
I also wash my quilts the way I think a recipient would want to - wash like normal, dry like normal. I think the people I give quilts to would not use them if they required special care. So I always say "this quilt has already been washed and dried and needs no special care". I don't have a Speed Queen, but a top loader that I can fill all the way up. I use a color catcher and detergent and dryer balls in the dryer. So far this has worked for me.
