How do you wash and Dry a new Quilt?
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 32
How do you wash and Dry a new Quilt?
I have just finished my first quilt, but I am not sure how to wash and dry it. I've read that I should wash it on cold with mild soap and then block it to dry it. It is a baby quilt and I'm sure that my niece will want to put it in the drier. It has wool batting.
How should I clean and dry it and what should I tell my niece?
Thank-you. wfeld1st
How should I clean and dry it and what should I tell my niece?
Thank-you. wfeld1st
#4
I always give a care of quilt note with the gift. I include what quilt is made of, type of batting, poly, cotton, wool, ect. You never know who may be allergic to what. Water temp, cycle, drying information, anything I can think of. What they do with the information is up to them.
#5
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Central NJ
Posts: 5,572
I would look at your batting package and see what it recommends for the wool batting. I'm not familiar with wool batts so don't know how washable it may be. Since I use W&N (cotton), I toss mine in the washer, usually perm. press cycle, in warm water. Then toss in the dryer, again perm press cycle, until it's dry. I have found that if the quilt is square when it's completed there's no need to block. Might want to use a 'baby' detergent since it is for a baby but otherwise I just use my regular laundry detergent.
#6
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 41,539
First, was the fabric washed before you made the quilt? How intense are the colours? If it's never been washed bright fabrics you will need something in a gentle wash in case the fabric bleeds. If it bleeds do not dry the quilt which will set the marks.Will your fabric bleed even if pre-washed? sometimes. I always use Shout Color Catchers in the washer the first time I wash a quilt.
I have never used a wool batt so check the packaging for the care it requires.
I have never used a wool batt so check the packaging for the care it requires.
#7
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 12,861
first check the batting package and see how it says it can be laundered- i've used dream wool which is totally wash/dryable.
but different batts have different requirements.
i tend to wash/dry my quilts exactly like i think they will be cared for by the person i'm giving them to-for baby/kids quilts i expect them to be tossed in to the washer and the dryer-so that's what i do when i finish one- i toss it in --usually with warm water because thats what i tend to use- a regular cycle- then i toss it into the dryer- if it doesn't survive that it's not going to survive a child/baby using it---
i actually wash/dry all of my quilts this way-unless it's a wallhanging- item i do not expect to ever be washed....in the 35 years of making quilts i've never made one that did not go through the washer/dryer -- some i don't wash/dry often---like the wool quilts that normally just need to be vacuumed/ spot cleaned/ or taken out & dusted/ shook out-
the silk/velvet/crazy quilts were washed when finished- but i did lay them outside on a sheet(draped over my hammock) with another sheet over it to protect it from birds-to dry
but different batts have different requirements.
i tend to wash/dry my quilts exactly like i think they will be cared for by the person i'm giving them to-for baby/kids quilts i expect them to be tossed in to the washer and the dryer-so that's what i do when i finish one- i toss it in --usually with warm water because thats what i tend to use- a regular cycle- then i toss it into the dryer- if it doesn't survive that it's not going to survive a child/baby using it---
i actually wash/dry all of my quilts this way-unless it's a wallhanging- item i do not expect to ever be washed....in the 35 years of making quilts i've never made one that did not go through the washer/dryer -- some i don't wash/dry often---like the wool quilts that normally just need to be vacuumed/ spot cleaned/ or taken out & dusted/ shook out-
the silk/velvet/crazy quilts were washed when finished- but i did lay them outside on a sheet(draped over my hammock) with another sheet over it to protect it from birds-to dry
#8
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Delmarva Peninsula
Posts: 1,151
Did you prewash the fabric? Is the batting 100% or wool/ cotton blend? Did you prewash and dry the batting? If everything has been prewash and pre shrunk, then I would put regular wash and dry instructions in with the gift. (Personally, I do not totally dry my quilts in the dryer) If both the fabric and batting has not been prewashed, I would hand wash the quilt in a tub of luke warm water, with a mild soap, rinse well, roll up to squeeze the extra water out of the quilt, then blot well with towels, and hang dry.
I have just finished my first quilt, but I am not sure how to wash and dry it. I've read that I should wash it on cold with mild soap and then block it to dry it. It is a baby quilt and I'm sure that my niece will want to put it in the drier. It has wool batting.
How should I clean and dry it and what should I tell my niece?
Thank-you. wfeld1st
How should I clean and dry it and what should I tell my niece?
Thank-you. wfeld1st
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lived in San Diego now retired in Eagar, AZ.
Posts: 887
if it is done now, i would cold water wash with cold water (don't even warm water rinse, change of temp can make felt easily) rinse and give her a little tag with the same info... if you put that wool bat into a dryer while it is wet, it will be felt when it comes out...it should be air dried... in future, use poly for baby quilts, washable, dryable, hypoallergenic and dragable for years..allergies are too prevalent in young ones and wool is highly allergenic to a pretty big percentage of people.. i'm sure it feels wonderful and looks beautiful so we're all gonna cross our fingers...i know your daughter will love the quilt...
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
gailmitchell
Links and Resources
9
12-24-2009 12:14 AM