Help WAshing a New Baby Quilt

> Every time I finish a quilt I wash it, using regular laundry soap,
> cold water, and the gentle cycle, and then toss it into the dryer. I
> figure that if it's going to fall apart or have some little problem, I
> want to know so I can fix it. And I want the quilt to be 100% freshly
> clean before I give it away. I am a traditional quilter, and the ONLY
> "modern" thing I do is use a rotary cutter and mat, so every stitch is
> by hand.

>I handquilted this one and it was slow going. So I feel like I've
>"wallered" this quilt around for weeks, plus
>I've got this new and disgusting problem with my hands sweating. TMI,
>I know. Point of the
>story is that I really feel this one needs to be washed before
>gifting.
>Here's the advice I've gotten so far.
>WAsh it in the washer, but don't agitate. Just swish it by hand. Dry
>flat until it's nearly dry
>then fluff it on low heat.
>WAsh it in the bath tub but don't wring it. I'm not sure how this
>would be accomplished.
>And it sounds hard. Dry it on the clothesline with a towel covering
>the line.
>Use Dreft
>Use a clear liquid detergent with no perfume. I already bought the
>dreft, and it definitely
>has a perfumy smell, and it's yellow.
>Don't use woolite. It will yellow the fabric.
>Put 1/2 cup of vinegar in the wash cycle to keep the colors bright.
>This one scares me.
>It's a new quilt. The colors are already bright.
>It's got prairie points, so I want to make them lay nice and flat
>somehow. Maybe lay flat and
>just smooth with my hand while they're wet?
>Okay, I know, Iknow; this quilt will survive many careless washings in
>its lifetime. But I
>want it to look really nice for the presentation. I guess I'm just
>kind of vain that way. :-)
>Thanks for any of the collective tricks that I know you all have up
>your sleeves.
>All the fabric was prewashed, and the batting is Warm & Natural, it
>was prewashed too.
>Sherry

>I wash every finished quilt: best to know before giving if anything
> weird will happen to it! And I don't coddle them either. They go right
> in the machine, program for colored stuff, normal detergent (they are
> all cotton). then into the regular drier. I assume that's what will
> happen to them in their new homes! They shrink 3-5%, which is what I
> want them to do anyway for a nice texture. (If you pre-washed your
> W&N, maybe it won't.) But then I don't worry, the recipient won't have
> palpitations the first time she washes it, and I know it's clean and
> fresh.
> There's no law that you can't press your prairie points after washing!
> Goodness, press the entire quilt if you want!
> Roberta in D
> wrote:
>>I handquilted this one and it was slow going. So I feel like I've
>>"wallered" this quilt around for weeks, plus
>>I've got this new and disgusting problem with my hands sweating. TMI,
>>I know. Point of the
>>story is that I really feel this one needs to be washed before
>>gifting.
>>Here's the advice I've gotten so far.
>>WAsh it in the washer, but don't agitate. Just swish it by hand. Dry
>>flat until it's nearly dry
>>then fluff it on low heat.
>>WAsh it in the bath tub but don't wring it. I'm not sure how this
>>would be accomplished.
>>And it sounds hard. Dry it on the clothesline with a towel covering
>>the line.
>>Use Dreft
>>Use a clear liquid detergent with no perfume. I already bought the
>>dreft, and it definitely
>>has a perfumy smell, and it's yellow.
>>Don't use woolite. It will yellow the fabric.
>>Put 1/2 cup of vinegar in the wash cycle to keep the colors bright.
>>This one scares me.
>>It's a new quilt. The colors are already bright.
>>It's got prairie points, so I want to make them lay nice and flat
>>somehow. Maybe lay flat and
>>just smooth with my hand while they're wet?
>>Okay, I know, Iknow; this quilt will survive many careless washings in
>>its lifetime. But I
>>want it to look really nice for the presentation. I guess I'm just
>>kind of vain that way. :-)
>>Thanks for any of the collective tricks that I know you all have up
>>your sleeves.
>>All the fabric was prewashed, and the batting is Warm & Natural, it
>>was prewashed too.
>>Sherry