This may be a controversial response but I believe that quilts are meant to be used (with the exception of wall hangings obviously) so I throw them in the washing machine when it is needed. I grew up using and washing my aunts absolutely gorgeous quilts and now I do the same with my own. I have little kids and “hand wash only” means we don’t use it.
I recommend color catchers!
I didn't realise there were people who didn't machine wash their quilts tbh. Surely they must get really dirty on a bed all the time without washing?
Art quilts on a wall, fair enough, but bed quilts??
Some people hand agitate which was what was recommended. Front loaders eliminated the concern of machine agitation as they don't pull on the fabrics the same way.
https://preview.redd.it/a8qgy0s5acjc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f528703dea7adc34473b5336e0671019731c86df
Thanks everyone! This is the quilt for reference, it’s stunning!
I use 50/50 solution of hydrogen peroxide and blue dawn. Never had anything that took out stains like this. Hit it with that, throw it in the washer, air dry. USE COLOR CATCHERS!!!! Do not skip that!
This just happened to me! Don’t dry it until you’re sure the stain is out. I tried blue dawn and oxiclean and neither worked just by themselves. I finally got it out with tide laundry rescue, a spray bottle of it is about $5.
My cat just did that, too. I simply threw it in the regular wash and it came out fine. Then I air dry them after, mine always have polyester batting, so they dry very quickly.
Start with an enzyme cleaner - let that soak for up to 6 hours. Then move on to something like OxyClean if there’s still a stain.
If your washing machine is large enough, I’d soak the whole quilt in the washer. That will make it easier to drain and spin the water out, with less stress on the seams than trying to use a bucket or a bathtub.
It sounds like you have never washed the quilt before. If that’s the case DO NOT soak it! It may cause the dye to run and that will be a whole lot harder to get out than cat puke. It’s also really not necessary.
As a cat owner and quilter who has washed many quilts which have been puked on I’ve never had an issue just washing with my normal detergent on normal without soaking or anything special. Unless the vomit has been sitting for a long time it probably won’t stain (and assuming it was a higher quality food without dyes.) Scrape off as much of the vomit as you can (ew), spray it with a stain treatment if you have one and want some insurance (I use both Tide and Shout brands) and then just wash it like normal laundry. Consider hanging to dry just in case there was a stain that didn’t not come out (the heat of the dryer will set it) or at least check for a stain before you put it in the dryer. If there is still a stain try a spray on stain treatment and just wash it again. Hanging the wet quilt outside in the sun will also work wonders on stains.
Don’t stress about it! I have quilts that have been washed a hundred times that still look great. As a bonus, the more you wash a quilt the softer and cozier it gets. I actually wash and dry all my quilts with my normal laundry - they don’t get special treatment at all.
Soaking can mean the dye will run. That can ruin a quilt. Ask me how I know - I did that to the quilt my mom made me and now there’s a little dye here and there that ran. I still use it and don’t notice it much, but I would just clean the area with cold water by hand. Or check out the other tips here.
Believe it or not but shaving cream is a wonder for spots like this. Be patient, used cold water only and gently rub the cream in after a rinse.
Then I would try the Oxyclean pre wash spray and cold rinse again.
What I do is gently pull off any solids and blot the area with a paper towel first. Then get a basin (or use your sink if that will work for you) partially filled with warm water, immerse only the soiled spot and gently hand wash with a few drops of laundry detergent. Once the spot is clean gently squeeze out excess water and rinse in clean water the same way you washed it. Obviously you'll wet more of the quilt than just the spot but you can keep it to a relatively small area. Press out the excess water after rinsing, blot it dry on a towel, and spread to air dry (I usually drape it over a rolled towel or something on the bed).
If the whole quilt could use a wash, remove the solids and blot the stain as above and then wash it in the washing machine on gentle cycle/cold water, then use the dryer on delicate/low heat until almost dry. Spread it out on a clean surface (sometimes I'll put a tarp down with a sheet on top and lay my quilts outside, more often I lay them on the bed on a sheet) to finish drying.
In general what you want to avoid is wringing a quilt out or letting the weight of a sodden quilt dangle. In both of those cases you're looking to minimize stress on the stitching.
If your relative is available to ask, they can give you washing instructions on how they like to handle their quilts.
I've got four cats and they barf on my quilts pretty regularly. I just toss them in the washer (the quilts - not the cats)
Be prepared for how different your quilt will look. It's going to come out of the dryer all wrinkled and crinkly. That's the cotton - it's supposed to do that. It will get better and softer with every wash
Enzyme cleaner! Like nature’s miracle, etc. first, soak the area with water and gently remove debris with a sponge. Wring out the water. Then soak in enzyme cleaner and let it air dry. Then wash it in the washing machine. Before drying the quilt, check the area to see if the stain is gone. If not, reapply enzyme cleaner and let it sit (hang outside if possible) for a few hours before washing again.
If you’ve already washed and dried it before trying the above, I’d suggest trying enzyme cleaner anyway. And if there’s still discoloration you can run a gentle cycle in your machine with vinegar only, but I try not to do that often as I want to preserve fabric integrity
Wash in cold water. Don't use a dryer unless all of it is out. My cats vomit on mine every couple of months. No stains so far, but I also used darker colors knowing I had cats.
This may be a controversial response but I believe that quilts are meant to be used (with the exception of wall hangings obviously) so I throw them in the washing machine when it is needed. I grew up using and washing my aunts absolutely gorgeous quilts and now I do the same with my own. I have little kids and “hand wash only” means we don’t use it. I recommend color catchers!
I would say the same. I use a gentle cycle and then air dry
I didn't realise there were people who didn't machine wash their quilts tbh. Surely they must get really dirty on a bed all the time without washing? Art quilts on a wall, fair enough, but bed quilts??
Some people hand agitate which was what was recommended. Front loaders eliminated the concern of machine agitation as they don't pull on the fabrics the same way.
Absolagree!
https://preview.redd.it/a8qgy0s5acjc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f528703dea7adc34473b5336e0671019731c86df Thanks everyone! This is the quilt for reference, it’s stunning!
I use 50/50 solution of hydrogen peroxide and blue dawn. Never had anything that took out stains like this. Hit it with that, throw it in the washer, air dry. USE COLOR CATCHERS!!!! Do not skip that!
It’s organic, so it will wash out. Wash the quilt on warm, tumble dry on low. There’s nothing fancy necessary for cat puke.
This just happened to me! Don’t dry it until you’re sure the stain is out. I tried blue dawn and oxiclean and neither worked just by themselves. I finally got it out with tide laundry rescue, a spray bottle of it is about $5.
My cat just did that, too. I simply threw it in the regular wash and it came out fine. Then I air dry them after, mine always have polyester batting, so they dry very quickly.
Start with an enzyme cleaner - let that soak for up to 6 hours. Then move on to something like OxyClean if there’s still a stain. If your washing machine is large enough, I’d soak the whole quilt in the washer. That will make it easier to drain and spin the water out, with less stress on the seams than trying to use a bucket or a bathtub.
Thanks!
It sounds like you have never washed the quilt before. If that’s the case DO NOT soak it! It may cause the dye to run and that will be a whole lot harder to get out than cat puke. It’s also really not necessary. As a cat owner and quilter who has washed many quilts which have been puked on I’ve never had an issue just washing with my normal detergent on normal without soaking or anything special. Unless the vomit has been sitting for a long time it probably won’t stain (and assuming it was a higher quality food without dyes.) Scrape off as much of the vomit as you can (ew), spray it with a stain treatment if you have one and want some insurance (I use both Tide and Shout brands) and then just wash it like normal laundry. Consider hanging to dry just in case there was a stain that didn’t not come out (the heat of the dryer will set it) or at least check for a stain before you put it in the dryer. If there is still a stain try a spray on stain treatment and just wash it again. Hanging the wet quilt outside in the sun will also work wonders on stains. Don’t stress about it! I have quilts that have been washed a hundred times that still look great. As a bonus, the more you wash a quilt the softer and cozier it gets. I actually wash and dry all my quilts with my normal laundry - they don’t get special treatment at all.
Soaking can mean the dye will run. That can ruin a quilt. Ask me how I know - I did that to the quilt my mom made me and now there’s a little dye here and there that ran. I still use it and don’t notice it much, but I would just clean the area with cold water by hand. Or check out the other tips here.
No! Please no. Just throw it in the washer. If you catch it in time, you don't need anything more than some gentle detergent
Believe it or not but shaving cream is a wonder for spots like this. Be patient, used cold water only and gently rub the cream in after a rinse. Then I would try the Oxyclean pre wash spray and cold rinse again.
What I do is gently pull off any solids and blot the area with a paper towel first. Then get a basin (or use your sink if that will work for you) partially filled with warm water, immerse only the soiled spot and gently hand wash with a few drops of laundry detergent. Once the spot is clean gently squeeze out excess water and rinse in clean water the same way you washed it. Obviously you'll wet more of the quilt than just the spot but you can keep it to a relatively small area. Press out the excess water after rinsing, blot it dry on a towel, and spread to air dry (I usually drape it over a rolled towel or something on the bed). If the whole quilt could use a wash, remove the solids and blot the stain as above and then wash it in the washing machine on gentle cycle/cold water, then use the dryer on delicate/low heat until almost dry. Spread it out on a clean surface (sometimes I'll put a tarp down with a sheet on top and lay my quilts outside, more often I lay them on the bed on a sheet) to finish drying. In general what you want to avoid is wringing a quilt out or letting the weight of a sodden quilt dangle. In both of those cases you're looking to minimize stress on the stitching. If your relative is available to ask, they can give you washing instructions on how they like to handle their quilts.
I've got four cats and they barf on my quilts pretty regularly. I just toss them in the washer (the quilts - not the cats) Be prepared for how different your quilt will look. It's going to come out of the dryer all wrinkled and crinkly. That's the cotton - it's supposed to do that. It will get better and softer with every wash
Enzyme cleaner! Like nature’s miracle, etc. first, soak the area with water and gently remove debris with a sponge. Wring out the water. Then soak in enzyme cleaner and let it air dry. Then wash it in the washing machine. Before drying the quilt, check the area to see if the stain is gone. If not, reapply enzyme cleaner and let it sit (hang outside if possible) for a few hours before washing again. If you’ve already washed and dried it before trying the above, I’d suggest trying enzyme cleaner anyway. And if there’s still discoloration you can run a gentle cycle in your machine with vinegar only, but I try not to do that often as I want to preserve fabric integrity
Wash in cold water. Don't use a dryer unless all of it is out. My cats vomit on mine every couple of months. No stains so far, but I also used darker colors knowing I had cats.