Any suggestions for fabric bleed on a finished quilt?

[Hoffer]

I am a semi-newbie and member of local Quilts of Valor. I washed a red white and blue quilt today, and red bled on the white, Can I rescue it in some way?

[auntiemern]

Re: Any suggestions for fabric bleed on a finished quilt?

If you haven't dried it you could try color catchers. If dry, try spraying some spray and wash or oxy clean on the area.

[Jen7]

Re: Any suggestions for fabric bleed on a finished quilt?

What Marilyn said, and know that it may take several washes with several color catcher sheets, don't dry in-between!

[coffeebreak]

Re: Any suggestions for fabric bleed on a finished quilt?

I did that same thing... an American flag quilt! I made it out of 5" tumblers shapes. However, I am from the old school where we pre washed EVERYTHING. Nothing ever went to the sewing room unless it was washed! Drilled into my head at age 10! So I did have all my fabrics...red white and blue..prewashed. I made the quilt, and then washed it once finished and the red bled to the white! I was shocked as I pre washed!! I noticed it when taking out of the washer, so I washed again, and nothing. I tried even to use bleach with a Q-tip and I think that might have helped a few little areas, but still... it was basically ruined as far as color goes. And it was a gift for my grand son! I couldn't give him that now. But nothing I could do so I made something different..being "mad"at the red and then I also took all my red fabric and washed again.

But since then I have heard about color catchers and they do work great. They are just a bit expensive for me (many say they toss in 2-3 per load!) so I organize my fabric washings and make sure I wash all darks together and all lights together. THe lights don't usually need a catcher, but what I will do is if alot of reds or even darker pinks, I will wash withe one catcher and if it comes out with alot of color on it, I will wash again with another catcher which usually comes out clean. Then I will toss that clean on into the lights. Not sure if it helps or works as usually lights don't bleed anyway, but it might help. And if no lights, I will save the second sheet for next time with reds and toss that in with the first wash...if both come out clean I figure I am okay.

[AnnaF]

Re: Any suggestions for fabric bleed on a finished quilt?

This happened to me also. I bought Oxy-clean powder (put 3 color catchers in) and soaked the quilt overnight then ran the wash cycle like normal. All the red came out of the white...now I always add oxyclean to the first cycle. Good luck!