My husband and three boys got Covid at the end of August this year. My husband slept on the bed and I slept elsewhere. So once he was better I had to wash my red, cream and blue quilt. It was my first time washing it and I was nervous. I machine washed it in cold water on a delicate cycle with eight Shout color catchers. I just use the Kirkland detergent from Costco.
I felt a little sick when I pulled it out of the washing machine because the reds had bled. (Believe me that it looked much worse than the pictures show.)
I knew it wasn't completely lost because I hadn't put it in the dryer or used any heat. I pulled out my Synthrapol to wash it again. I believe Synthrapol is usually used with hand dyed fabrics because extra dye can bond with it. It can also help a bleeding quilt. But don't make the same mistake I made the first time a quilt had bled. I do not recommend using hot water like the instructions on the bottle show. That is for hand dyed fabrics--not a whole quilt.
I washed it again in cold, delicate cycle, with eight new color catchers. This time I added 2 tsp of the Synthrapol.
Better, but definitely not perfect.
I washed it again the same way with eight new color catchers and the Synthrapol.
Better but still not perfect. I did find it interesting how there was less red in the color catchers each time.
After that fifth wash the colors were better, but the quilt felt a little soapy. So I washed in cold water on a delicate cycle with only the last eight color catchers again and no soap or Synthrapol. After that sixth wash it looked so much better that I put it in the dryer. By then it was late at night and all the kids were in bed. I pulled it out of the dryer still a little damp and laid it on the floor so happy that I was able to save my quilt!
The next morning Kitty enjoyed walking on the "octagons."
Incidentally I have decided to donate the red coin quilt. I have never been able to bring myself to use it. I have only ever displayed it on a shelf folded up like in the entertainment center below.
It is time for that red quilt to help someone else.
XX,
Jasmine
