Posted on 03/26/2010 9:35:35 AM PDT by SMARTY
I have to get my favorite quilt cleaned and I don't want it to go to the dry cleaners. They never really get things clean.
Can I put it in the washing machine?
Big NO.
I don’t know how I got that in there, just ignore it. Can anyone tell me about the laundry question?
What will happen?
I suppose it depends on the quilt... but one thing I’d say is to make sure the machine is a front loader and is run on the gentlest cycle available.
Of course, being a man I don’t know jack about this stuff... I’m just guessing. :)
Based on the question and the comment, this has a chance to be one of the more interesting threads.
The quilt my great-grandmother made has been through the washing machine more than once, but it will depend on the fabrics in your quilt and how it was made. Check out some of the quilting forums.
I have a hand-washable cycle on my washer (a front loader) which is very gentle. If you have that, you could try it with a mild detergent. Unless it is falling apart or the fabrice disintegrating, that should work.
just make sure you use the hottest water you can to get it a clean as possible so you dont have to do it twice. Some bleach will disinfect it too.
dont waste time drying it too long- use the highest setting
It depends.....:)
what is it made of?
How old is it?
I have 2 handmade quilts made of cotton that I wash in cold water and tumble dry low.
I have another made of cotton that was not prewashed that I only dry clean.
I have a few old quilts (50+ years) that I only dry clean because the washing machine could be the death toll to them.
If you would be devastated to have something happen to them, I would have them professinally dry cleaned and a respected dry cleaners.
If it is a modern quilt — yes. If it is an antique quilt (before 1950) be very careful.
Go to a laundromat and rent an extra large sized machine and put just one quilt in it. The dryer might be a different question. Carefully load it into a basket when still wet and take it home to lay it on the grass, or over a clean picnic table, on a sunny day and allow it to dry flat.
Why may I ask were you acutally using such a quilt? I only get out my real old, and personally valuable quilts occassionally. Just to look and admire the work my grandmothers did. I always give directions to clean and appraisals with the quilts I do. Hand sewn not machine.
Maybe you need a different dry cleaner? I have a dry cleaner I prefer over others in the neighborhood for that reason — this cleaner cleans better than the others.
By the way, I have a top loader washer...unless there was some doubt about the washability of the garment, I’ve never had a problem with a top loader ruining my stuff. I always set it on the gentlest cycle though.
I'm with Mr. K ... and when you're done with the dryer, take it out in the yard and beat on it with a rock
“If it is an antique quilt (before 1950) be very careful.”
Hey!
Do you know what it is made of and if the fabric was washed before construction? You are usually pretty safe washing them as long as the fabric was washed before constrution and it doesn’t have a lot of red fabric in it. I put my quilts in the washer all of the time. Use a frontloader, cold water and a handwash cycle. Use Ivory dishsoap instead of detergent it won’t strip the color. Lay it flat to dry better to wait for a warm sunny day and lay a sheet in the grass.
R U SERIES?
Is this a space quilt?
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