Washing a finished quilt
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Northwest suburb of Chicago
Posts: 64
Washing a finished quilt
I just finished a bed-sized quilt for my granddaughter's 10th birthday and want to wash it before giving it to her. Not sure what detergent/soap to use. It's very brightly colored so I do plan to use a color-catcher with it since I did not pre-wash my fabrics.
#2
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: United States
Posts: 2,222
A long time ago, I didn't pre-wash a quilt, and when I washed, I had seams come loose. I always pre-wash now and sometimes even in the middle of the process to check for issues. I probably go overboard but that experience with loose seams had a long term effect on how I handle quilts. I usually make queen size quilts.
Serita
#3
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Corpus Christi, Tx.
Posts: 16,105
I prewash every fabric that comes into my house. I keep washing until the water runs clear. I'm very anal about prewashing. I don't want to have to deal with bleeding and with what I've seen how some people handle fabric in the store with disregard like wiping their sweaty necks and such. I definitely prewash.
#4
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 11,276
With bright colors, and no pre-wash I would take it to a Laundromat. Use a large capacity machine with lots of water and several color catchers. You want lots and lots of water to keep any color run suspended in the water & not deposited on your quilt. I just use a tiny bit (like 25%) of my regular laundry detergent.
#5
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Tulsa, Ok
Posts: 4,582
I wash my finished quilts in warm water, light amount of regular detergent and light agitation/spin cycle with at least 2 color catchers, then dry in a low heat dryer without softners. I like to wash quilts to remove spray starch, spray basting, check for loose seams and bleeding before gifting.
#6
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Florida
Posts: 5,967
I agree with Paper Princess, take it to a Laundromat. My HE washer can hardly handle king size sheets, it simply couldn't spin a bed size quitl. On a large quilt I use 1/4 - 1/2 a box of color catchers. I use regular HE detergent.
#9
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Central NJ
Posts: 5,572
I wash my finished quilts with the same laundry products that I use on my clothing. I have a large capacity, top loading (older) machine so don't have the same water (and lack thereof) issues that some others here have. I can wash my quilted (store bought - I know, but the dogs are not going to ruin something I put all the effort of a king quilt) king sized quilt in my home machine with no problems.
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