Washing Quilts

Question

How much Orvus Paste should I use to wash a king size quilt?

Reply

Even when Orvus is sold in your local quilt store as "Quilt Soap", this stuff is concentrated! So you'll need no more than a tablespoon of Orvus added to your washing machine. Full instructions are included here at How to Wash A Quilt Safely".

The other important factors to remember are:

• If you didn't test for bleeding fabrics before you constructed your quilt, please do it before you wash it.
  
  One of my bee friends has been working on an applique quilt for over year, full of hand appliqued circles. Destined to become a treasured heirloom.
  
  Unfortunately (an understatement!) during the process of washing out the Elmer's glue used in the hand applique technique she used, several of the fabrics have run. These red fabrics were all pre-washed. All quilt store purchases.
  
  As she has removed and replace some circles and rewashed, other fabrics have bled.
  
  There is a huge amount of time invested in this quilt, and I'm sure she will finish it. But is hurts to watch her remove and replace circles, only to have other fabrics bleed.
  
  I would not want that to happen to you, or anyone else.
  
  Please, please, please pretest.


• Use the washing machine more as a convenient laundry tub than for its agitation.
  
  A wet quilt is a heavy quilt and the agitation from your washing machine can add considerable strain to your quilting stitches. Rather soak your quilt in the machine and use the spin feature to remove the water.

I hope this information is helpful to you.

We'd love to see your quilts! Why not share your quilt pictures with us at "Share Your Quilts" found at the left on the NavBar. Think about it. It's fun!

Piecefully,

Julie Baird
Editor

P.S One last thing to consider since it's a king size quilt...

If you will be taking this to a laundromat to use one of the bigger washing machines, consider running a load of something of YOURS in the same machine first.

I ran into a lady at a quilt show who'd used her local laundromat to wash a quilt, but the person before her had probably used a bleach product in the dispenser. The washing left lighter, bleached spots all over her quilt.

I felt terrible for her. This was something I hadn't even considered until I heard her story. Just something to keep in mind.