Spot-Cleaning a Quilt?

I would wash the whole thing and hope the dingy spot comes clean. I use poly batting so don't wash it first. I do wash whatever backing I use, to remove sizing and to allow any shrinkage before use.

Yes, I did wash all the fabric first; it's the *batting* I didn't wash. If it puckers a little that's fine; but I just need to hang this one up for display for a little while, and wanted that crisp "pre-washed" look till I"m ready to take it down and either give it away or use it. Thanks! Sherry

Sherry, since the fabrics used are 'stark white' mostly, my advice would be to wash the whole thing. It is possible when spot cleaning and rinsing, that a 'tide mark' could reappear after the area has dried especially when the nature of the dirt is unknown. I well remember having my arms checked by my adult sister for the telltale tide mark before bedtime - many times, my nephew and I tried to get away with a hand wash only - the water ran down our arms to our elbows leaving a clear clean/dirty line after drying our faces and arms. jennellh

Try Peroxide. That will get most spots out.

Alicia

I would wash it too, but I'd put it out and block it rather than putting it in the dryer. I usually lay my washed quilts on towels and gently pull it back to square and let it dry. They come out nice and flat.

I never wash batting and use the 80/20 or the 100% cotton, relying on the built-in 3-5% shrinkage to give texture to my quilts. Bind it, wash it! It will look good! Roberta in D

"Sherry" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: snipped-for-privacy@s19g2000prg.googlegroups.com...

What happens if the spot-cleaned area shrinks and the rest doesn't? Wouldn't you wash a quilt anyway before giving it away? Considering what's involved in the whole process (traces of oil/hand cream, dragging on the floor, lying around gathering dust for a week or 2, QI inspections, etc.) it's hard to claim a quilt is perfectly clean when it's finished, even if it looks pretty clean! Not unless we're like that child who lived in a glass bubble. Roberta in D

"Linda" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news:UKKdnWQgs9nRXyzanZ2dnUVZ snipped-for-privacy@bright.net...

My favorite trick for coffee stains: Dip the entire garment in coffee. It all comes out the same color so there's no need to worry about spots. Works for wine too if you drink cheap enough wine.

Couldn't you fold the quilt a different way and get your cat to lie on the other parts?

--Lia

Wash it, Sherry. I just washed a quilt that had been out on a Show and Tell trip and it is much lovelier. Taking it out of the dryer while a little damp and gently blocking helps too. Polly

you could try vacuuming is, lay it out on a clean surface and cover the end of the vacuum with an old pair of tights, then vacuum as you would anything else.

Cheers Anne

Howdy!

Spot cleaning is good for making more spots.

Wash it, the entire piece, in your washer or by hand, put it in the dryer or hang to dry; either will be better than spot cleaning. If you haven't washed these fabric before, be sure to use a Dye Magnet/Catcher in the wash water. You can block it if it draws up or goes off-kilter (not you, Larissa!).

I seldom pre-wash the Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 batting, tho' I have, with good results (little if any shrinking). Those quilts w/ HH 80/20 come out of the washroom looking just fine, or wonderful. ;-P Soft and cuddly, too.

If you spot clean it, you'll have those chemicals concentrated on that one spot, which might attract more dust or dirt, might discolor more in that area. Altho' you don't see dust on the rest of the quilt, it's there (esp. if it's been lying on the floor ). Clean the entire surface at once and you're more likely to have a uniformly clean quilt. In my experience w/ older tops (sent to me for handquilting), many of the age spots & discoloration of some areas is due to the uneven handling of the quilt top, and to starch being applied unevenly. After quilting I like to soak the quilt in a little BIZ, rinse, then give it a gentle wash (including a Dye Magnet/Catcher), & a thorough rinse; in my experience the quilt comes out looking clean (and brighter) all over.

One more word about cleaning: most quilt cleaning instructions DO NOT recommend dry cleaning.

Good luck!

R/Sandy

Have you ever tried Oxy-Clean. I use it for cleaning my sheers, towels, socks, etc.

Tried it for spot cleaning my carpeting. Had to treat the spot several times but it all came out.

Kate T. South Mississippi

Okay, okay. I'll wash the #%& thing. :-)

I did vacuum with the hose covered (Thanks, Anne!)....and probably 80% of it came out....most was loose sand/dirt out of his coat.

Gonna bind it tomorrow then wash. It's Aunt Grace-type fabric, the blocks are sort of similar to the old Christian Cross blocks. I'm going to try to piece the binding using 6" strips of the leftover fabric. It was a *fun* quilt to piece, so many bright and cheerful fabrics, each block was different so I never got bored.

Thanks, all!

Sherry

Thank you, Sherry. Trust us. Pristine, brand-new may be nice but washed is cozy, 'touch me' wonderful. And (!) whisker-rub the sweet kitty who has seriously tested and approved your quilt. Polly

"Sherry" Okay, okay. I'll wash the #%& thing. :-)