How do you wash your quilts?

gretchenh

I've been searching online and finding all sorts of opinions.  I've almost finished the quilt I'm making as a wedding gift for my brother.  It's the first I've totally finished.  It is all machine quilted, no hand sewing unless I change my mind on the binding (he gave me 6 weeks notice and I want to give it to them at the wedding, hand sewing is not something I do well, and he will probably machine wash it in the future).

Mainly I'm wondering on soap.  Some sites say to use special soaps, others say Woolite, others to avoid Woolite, etc.  Would Tide Free and Clear be okay or should I get something special?

I'm going to wash it in the machine, but just soak it, rinse it, and spin out the water.  I'll avoid any actual agitation.  I will also throw some a couple color catchers in. It has 39 different colors of Kona cotton so expecting some dye to come off.

 Thanks for the help.  Once it is done I'll post pictures.  I have about 15 more 8-0 inch lines to sew and it will be quilted!  Then to square up and bind. 

Mrs Acorn Blue

My DH's aunt made a queen-sized quilt for us as a wedding gift that is hand-quilted.  I've washed it with my usual detergent (Tide Free and Clear) and some vinegar as fabric softener on a light gentle cycle (quick and a little slower but with agitation) and either hung it out to dry or stuck it in the dryer on low.  It turned out great.  She did not pre-wash any of the fabrics....it's blue and white and nothing really ran thanks to the vinegar.  

Lucky7707

we have tons of quilts around from MIL that hand quilts with polyester batting & I've always machine washed (front load) with my usual detergent & they hold up fine & I've never noticed any bleeding. The only quilt that shows wear is one that my dog decided to "dig" in. She mostly does baby quilts & knows that they will get dirty & washed repeatedly which she said is why she's been using the polyester batting.. She's about to make a quilt for our king size bed and try using cotton batting this time. I'm supposed to let her know how it wears/holds up in the wash. lol. 

maryandkirk0909

I use Woolite and color catchers on a normal wash cycle.

1Thess517

I don't do anything special...just a cold/cool delicates cycle with my regular detergent and I put them in the dryer on low heat. I love that wrinkly quilty look, though. The quilts I've made (all machine sewn except the bindings) have held up fantastically while the crappy JCP quilt we got for our wedding (and I haven't had time to make one to replace it) that's on our bed looks horrible.

nanann

Your plan sounds fine.  I usually just wash them like I wash anything -- regular detergent, etc.  I most definitely add color catchers though, and I even prewash all my fabrics.