Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Wash day

The kids are back in school and I'm in full swing, getting the house back in order.  I love summer and I love my kids, but it's good to get the routine rolling again, for all of us.  I noticed that my one son's quilt was looking a bit grungy (if you know us personally, you might be able to guess which one!) so I figured I'd throw them both in the wash.  We have beautiful sunshine and a breeze today - perfect.  Swoon will be next.


So tell me - how often do you wash your quilts?  Anything special that you use/do?  I haven't been at quilting all that long but I'd say in the year and a bit since I finished these two quilts I've washed them twice.  Once in the spring and once in the fall.  How about you?

11 comments:

Poppyprint said...

I don't wash mine much, but when I do, it's on the gentle cycle in my front loader with fragrance-free detergent. 20 minutes in the dryer on low, then laid flat on a giant beach towel on the floor to dry fully. Yours look so pretty on the line!

Katie B said...

I don't wash my regular throw quilts very often, but some of my quilts get washed a lot! The ones on Luke's bed, especially (he usually has 4 or 5). And my 13-year-old dog has claimed one, so that one gets washed all the time. Sometimes I joke that I have a load of whites, one of darks, and one of quilts. And I don't do anything fancy--wash them on gentle and throw them in the dryer on low.

Patti said...

Your quilts look so great hanging on the line! I don't wash mine alot either, but I tend to just toss them in the washer and dryer! Mine aren't by any means heirloom quality, so they don't get any special treatment.

Toni said...

We're pretty much the same as Katie, the ones on the kids' beds get washed a lot, but the ones thrown on the couch don't make it to the washer very often. Unless something bad happens to them...

linda f said...

Heather,

Hi, I wash them twice a year. I use cold water, gentle cycle with gentle soap. Once done, I dry outside or in dryer. I may need to replace binding on one of my dtrs quilt. It is about seven years old and well loved.

Enjoy your blog!

Linda

Kate said...

Almost all of mine are throw quilts, and they get washed often to dislodge the cat hair. Just cold wash, regular detergent (which is All Free & Clear) and gentle cycle. I use the dryer on low and a dryer sheet because that seems to remove more hair.

Debbie said...

Ours don't get washed often either but when they do it's cold wash then 'just' dry in the dryer. They've seems to do fine.

amy said...

i used to only handquilt my quilts (i only have a few of those). THOSE i do not wash. they also aren't used a whole ton, so i'm ok with that. my son's quilt used to get washed every few weeks when he was little (you know...all that spit up). to get all the stains out, it went through a pretty harsh wash cycle - washing on hot/cold, not even the gentle cycle, and dried on high. sometimes it also got a prewash-soak and a second rinse, too (like i do with his diapers). it's always come out fine, but for ALL quilts, i like to throw in some color catchers!! at least for the first number of washes. i'd hate for anything to happen!

Chelsea said...

Oh, wow, I think that compared to everyone else I qualify as beating the crap out of my quilts! One of our cats sleeps on the bed every night and he generally comes in filthy, so depending on how much dirt rolling he's been doing I wash my bed quilt once a week to once a month. I'm allergic to dust so I find that washing helps with that, too. Throw quilts get washed about once a month and the dog's quilt once a week. I normally go with a gentle cycle unless they're really dirty and if I remember I presoak them in oxyclean. Then into the dryer on low. None of them seem to be any worse for wear, but I also don't mind if they wear out. Some days I worry that I have too many quilts as it is!

Krista Schneider said...

other than washing right after finishing, I've only washed one quilt multiple times (the others have been given away!) and that's my kaleidoscope quilt that goes on my bed. 3 times since novemember, I use my top loading agitator washer (uh, some of us still have those!) on the gentlest cycle possible, and I babysit it. That might sound crazy, but I just sit down there with the top open and social network on my phone while I keep an eye out. Then it goes in the dryer on low. Lovely quilts!

Cynthia@wabisabiquilts said...

Both of your quilts hanging there on the line are stunners! Here in Japan I have a tiny washing machine so it's a challenge to wash any quilt. In the US I wash my quilts about twice a year or depending on the quilt, more often. "As needed" I guess you could say. Large front loader, gentle cycle.. And I put them in the dryer until just dry. But shhhh.... Don't tell my grandma. She soaks hers in the tub with Orvis paste and then lays flat to dry. She hardly ever washes them and it's a huge ordeal when she does. She would be horrified at how I wash my quilts but they have held up fine.