Quilt washing question

This is probably NOT the proper way, but I usually just throw my quilts in the washer regular cycle, warm water, with a little of my regular detergent (Seventh Generation Free and Clear). Then I put it in the dryer. I make my quilts to be used (most of them gifts) and I figure that is how they will probably be treated in the future, so there's no point babying them up front. If they're not going to take that kind of treatment, I want to know before I give them away. We've had some discussion on Woolite before; it may not be the best choice for a mostly cotton quilt. Woolite is designed for wool, not cotton.

Julia > I am looking for consensus on the "proper" way to wash out the lines

On Sat, 10 Nov 2007 10:08:03 -0600, John wrote (in article ):

Usually I was in cold with Orvus. As for drying, I try to decide how I'm most likely to want to dry it later on. Often I'll put bed quilts in the dryer since I'm likely to want to get them back on the bed quickly. Wallhangings I tend to hang over the clothesline in the basement.

For baby quilts or table toppers/placemats/runners, which I figure will require more frequent washing, I use Orvus in warm (or sometimes cold) water and dry in a low dryer.

Maureen

John, it depends on what kind of marking pencil you have used. If it is one of the blue or purple disappearing ones you need to use plain water and get it thoroughly out. If a chalk pencil it should brush out, or wash out in normal washing. Check the packaging that the pencil came in, if any, for specifics. Otherwise test a sample on a scrap to be sure.

Pati, > I am looking for consensus on the "proper" way to wash out the lines

Most of us have heard horror stories about the water-soluble (or disappearing) marking pen's ink coming back to haunt you with permanent brown lines- after being spritzed with water to make the ink go away. When I use the water-soluble pens, I run the quilt thru a complete washer cycle with cool water and NO soap or detergent. This soaks the lines out completely and thoroughly dilutes the 'ink' from the pen. I always wash my finished quilts just exactly the same way I'd treat a good cotton shirt- warm water wash with my normal detergent and liquid softener, cool rinse and machine dried on the permanent press cycle. So far it's worked just fine for me.

Leslie, Missy & The Furbabies > I am looking for consensus on the "proper" way to wash out the lines

Except for baby quilts, I tend to wash all of my quilts in cold water (either Orvus or regular detergent) and tumble them dry; I don't have anywhere to hang them or spread them out flat to dry, so that's what I have to do. So far, so good. For baby quilts, I wash in warm or hot water, since that's what's going to be necessary in the future. Tumble dry.

As for getting marks out, it all depends on what kind of pencil you've used. If it's one of the blue ones, soaking in plain cold water will do the trick; be sure not to get these marks hot (setting the quilt in the sun, ironing, etc.), since the marks can become permanent. If the marks are chalk, they should brush or wash off. If, however, you've used something that looks like "regular" pencil, marked for quilters or not, there's really no good way to get the marks off. Guess how I know? That's because they're no longer made with lead, and graphite just doesn't come out easily, if at all. Bad news. :(

BTW, has anyone else discovered the new chalk marking pencil made by Bohin? It looks like a regular mechanical pencil, but it has skinny little "leads" of chalk, available either in white, grey, green or yellow. Refills are available, too, and the chalk goes on smooth and

*skinny*! :) I bought one for marking some of my quilted diamonds and another to send to my DT. :)

Alert the quilt police, because I'm about to spout some heresy here. :)

I wash my quilts in the washing machine with regular soap and dry them in the dryer, all on regular settings. If I've made a bed quilt, I made it to be used. And part of being used is getting washed. Yes, they will wear out faster than if I baby them. But a big reason is that if I had to baby them, they'd never be on my bed because I'd never get around to washing them after the first time they needed it. *big grin*

As to the marks themselves, read the directions that were on the package. I can't help you there, because I never mark with anything but chalk (on the rare occasions I mark at all).

I really like those little chalk markers with a wheel in them- Chakoliners or something like that? I'm at work today so I can't check to see the correct name. They can make a light line or a fairly heavy one and it brushes away very nicely. They come in white, pink and blue AFAIK.

Leslie, Missy & The Furbabies > In article ,

obvious)

Hide quoted text ->

Waaaaaah! Can't I leave you for one day? John, if you are talking about the Mondrian quilt - keep it away from Woolite. It took the black out of a piece of needlepoint that I'd stitched on for years. I'm not forgiving or forgetting. That stuff could be new and improved, there may be a formula for colors . . . doesn't matter. I won't ever be reasonable about it. If it were my quilt, I'd test by putting some marks on the yellow And washing both that and some black to see what was going to happen. Proceed with caution, you are treading on dangerous ground. Polly

I have heard for many years that Woolite is not a gentle soap/detergent. In fact, it seems the word was that it has some bleaching qualities to it. So I've never had any in my laundry room. I guess your message reinforces that, Polly.

Move over. I wash mine in warm water and Dreft (ONLY soap/detergent *I* can use) and pop it in teh dryer. If it starts to show wear--it's time to make a new one. Guys 'dirty' clothes get washed in Tide unscented and pre-soaked in Biz for the extra dirty.

Butterfly (but then ALL my fabric gets washed/dried before it comes into the studio)

I've heard the same thing. Many times I've been told it's terrible for anything. Shampoo is supposed to work very well for sweaters,etc. Gen

Kinda makes you wonder why it has the "gentle" reputation in the first place.

Oooh!! I have that and I *LOVE* it!! So much easier to use than the pencils, wheels, wedges, and pounces!! :)

'Cause they have an amazin' marketin' and PR department.

On the subject of lines, I'm like Polly - I had a blue line "reappear" TWO years later (what the &$%@?!!!) and since then, I use only chalk. Once bitten, twice shy.

When I wash, I wash for convenience (I hate doin' laundry - unless I have the odd chance to hang the wash outside and get that lovely sunshin-y smell!!), so it's Arm & Hammer (or Orvus - dependin' on whether it's purely a utilitarian quilt or a "nice" one) and cold water - sometimes, like with my blue & white (mainly white) Irish Chain, I'll use a tiny bit of bleach. But then, if you've seen what my family puts that poor quilt through, you'd understand! ;)

The suggestion about shampoo to wash afghans, sweaters, etc., came up in another group I subscribe to. A lady, who is an accomplished knitter/crocheter, said she couldn't figure out why anyone would think something formulated for human hair would be considered to be a good product for washing acrylic yarn! Makes sense to me.

Donna in Idaho

I was going to suggest Dreft also. It is good stuff. I have heard chatter about the wash away markers. I remember someone had problems on rayon when the washaway had been left for years on fabric as a ufo. I honestly have never had any problem with the washaway. I soak in clear water after using them though. I don't do much 'artsy' stuff so most everything gets washed gently. I had problems with one of the Crayola washable markers 10 years ago. One of the colors was just a bear to get out. Carbona stain remover is great stuff. They are available in the notions dept. at Joann's. The basic one works on most everything pretty well and there are special ones for a variety of stains. I prewash my fabrics. That might make a difference and I don't use softeners or starches as the norm. I think your water and what is in it may make a big difference too. Some is just so hard with a lot of minerals. Taria

Butterflyw> Move over. I wash mine in warm water and Dreft (ONLY soap/detergent *I* can

Shampoo *is* a good cleaner for silk and wool, which is probably where the sweater thing came up. Regular detergent should be just fine for acrylic.

I'm glad to hear that someone else is excited about it. I mailed off the one to my DT, and she knows *something* is coming, but I haven't told her what yet.

That I do understand. Maybe that's where the misunderstanding is - acrylic vs silk & wool.

Donna in Idaho