Use a large-capacity washer if possible, as it provides more space/ more water for the Handmade Quilt. I can wash Queen Quilt or King Quilts in my large home washer. Make sure to evenly load it into the machine as to not be too hard on your washer by throwing it out of balance. I Always choose a gentle cycle, (the less agitation) with plenty of water to prevent tugging and pulling. While Front-load washers work, they may not fill completely or with enough water, to allow as much room for the quilt to “float” in the water. The weight of the quilt alone when wet, is a lot. For this reason alone I would never buy a Front Loading Machine. Saving water is great, but for these big items there needs to be equal if not more water for them to wash/soak/float~ to not damage the quilt. The flopping around in a Front Loader ~ with half a tub of water isn’t as gentle as a Top Loading Machine. I also love the soak feature. Most quilts don’t really need to be agitated anyways. Not as much as they need time to soak and dissolve dirt and oils. letting a quilt soak for 1 hour really is the best way to lift dirt and oil. Then its all about the rinse.
Detergents to use when Washing
Use mild soap for washing. I prefer liquid detergent, and I always add the soap to the water before adding the quilt into the washer. Clearly never bleach your quilt, or use a soap that has bleach in it. But Its not so much about the soap, its more about how you use it. Never pour soap directly onto the quilt liquid or powder. Put it in the water first. This is to avoid concentrated spots of soap that's hard to rinse out, and to protect colors from fading. Quilts are thick with 3 layers, so rinsing thoroughly is essential and why you should never put soap directly onto the quilt. . Use a double rinse cycle to ensure all soap is removed. Run an extra spin cycle to shorten drying time in the dryer. I often use a product call Color Catchers to the water. Sometimes 8 to 10 of them to ensure light colors stay light. They work great!
Water Temperature/ How Often to Wash My Quilt?
Use lukewarm to cool water for washing quilts. Avoid hot water—it doesn’t clean better and can cause shrinkage, color bleeding, or fading. Don’t worry about washing your quilt; they need to be cleaned to “reset” them. Oils from skin can attract dirt over time, making the quilt harder to clean. While quilts don’t need washing as often as sheets, but waiting too long can stretch and pull them out of shape. Regular washing helps refresh the quilt and keeps the stitching and fabrics closer to their original form. Waiting too long~ is just as hard as washing them too often. My rule of thumb is once every three months.
