A tip on bleeding fabrics

16 years ago

Per Sandra's post I thought I'd make this a separate topic.

With all of the Quilts of Valor blocks I have received, with some prewashed fabrics and some not, bleeding fabrics have been a big concern.

I know that Synthrapol and Retayne solutions are out there and available on-line, but that's just a bit too spendy and complicated.

"Shout" brand color-catcher sheets really work for me!

The quilt I just posted, "quilt for Jen", was unwashed batik blue and white-on-white fabrics.

I washed it with 3 color-catcher cloths. The wash water was blue, and I was alarmed, but the rinse water was clear. I dried the quilt in the dryer. Yee-haw! The whites are a pristine white. The color catcher-cloths are a vibrant turquiose.

These things work.

Mary

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Comments (4)

sandra_ferguson
16 years ago
Synthrapol is available in MANY sewing machine shops (I last found it when I went into the Singer shop to get a belt), AND every better quilting shop I've been to for quite a while... the last I bought was $2.00 for 4 ounces. Seeing as how you only use 1 to 2 tsps/washer load, I consider it dirt cheap! And, to use, you put it into your washer along with soap and the load of whathaveyou..... that's not what I'd call complicated. So, if you choose another product, that's fine, but Synthrapol is NOT expensive and NOT difficult to use...and, I, personally, LOVE it! I use it also for ANY load of clothes when I'm concerned about a potential fading problem! It's never failed me.
gillian_41
16 years ago
I use Color Catchers so far so good have seen that other stuff at the LQS but to be quite honest never looked to see how much it cost.
Gillian
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Sandra, I had the same problem with red fabric I bought on sale from a quilt shop while on a vacation. I washed it first with color catchers and they turned bright red. I washed it twice in hot water with Retayne and it still bleeds just as much as the first time. You would think that by now the fabric would be pink lol!! I have been told that todays fabrics are dyed differently and salt and vinegar will not set the dyes. If you want to try the Retayne it should set the dye in the fabric with one hot washing, the instructions are on the bottle and I used a candy themometer to make sure I had it hot enough. The second time I let it sit overnight. I think I just got a bad dye batch and I will use it on a denim raggedy quilt. Good Luck!!! Rosa
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Update! Had a hugely busy week getting 3 grown (?) children off to college and semester abroad. No chance to deal with the quilt trauma! Got back to the quilt today. Have just washed it, cold water with oxi-clean powder and about 6 color catcher sheets. When it was done the color catchers were the color of grape juice! No kidding, never seen anything like that. The white and blue toile is much much less pink! Huge sigh of relief. It's back in the wash with another dose of the same. About that Synthrapol, doesn't that 'fix' the colors so they don't bleed anymore? I used it once years ago when doing a massive tie dye project with above mentioned boys. I remember the instructions were to wash the tie dyed garment/ fabric with the Synthrapol before wearing. I did and I have to say a few of those T shirts are still hanging around, passed down twice and have, over the 8 years, faded some but have never bled into the wash! So, I think once I'm satisfied that I've gotten as much of the pink out as I can I'll wash one last time with Synthrapol. You think that will prevent further bleeding? Thank you for all the support!
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Do not put it into the dryer until the bleeding stops. The heat sets the dye. I am a prewasher & it makes me crazy when this happens! Wash again, using a mild detergent (I like Dreft). If you have a HE washer, use the extra rinse cycle (cold water) and use about 5 Color Catchers. Hopefully it is fugitive dyes that landed on the other parts of the quilt and will now land on the Color Catchers. Do not let the wet quilt lay on itself. Take it out of the washer immediately. Hope this works!
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wanda_va
16 years ago
I use the Shout color catchers (or Woolite Dye Magnets) all the time when pre-washing fabric, and the first time I wash a new quilt. They have never let me down.
laurainsdca
16 years ago
Good to hear about the color catchers. I have been using them but always skeptical. How can a little piece of something in the wash prevent some of the dye from settling in the fabric?

Well, I think it was Arthur C. Clarke who said "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."

PS - I've seen synthrapol at JoAnns too but did not check out the price.

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A tip on bleeding fabrics

Comments (4)

sandra_ferguson

gillian_41

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wanda_va

laurainsdca

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