To stop quilting fabric from bleeding in your finished quilt, be sure to machine wash your fabric (sorted with like colors) and dry before cutting. Yes, that does mean you will have to iron or press your quilting fabrics as well!
I tend to be that person who never washes their fabric before I begin a quilt. That is to say, I never used to be a person who pre-washed fabrics.
I once had an incident in my home where water started leaking through an air conditioning vent in a rain storm. Unfortunately, I happened to have a quilt stand directly below it. I moved the stand and evaluated my quilts immediately – and was horrified to find that the color from the green flannel backing had run to the front of my quilt!
If I had pre-washed and pressed my fabrics before I began this quilt, I wouldn’t have this issue of bleeding colors. Just a little bit of water staining that could easily wash out.
But what would I do to fix my current situation? Solution: Shout Color Catchers. These things are miracle workers. I threw my quilt into the washing machine with two of these sheets and was simply amazed when I took it out of the washer.
You guessed it – the stain was gone! I was so relieved. The best news is that this product is inexpensive and can be found in the laundry section of your local grocery or big box store. I recommend keeping a box in the laundry room for just such emergencies.
I should point out too that I typically do not wash my quilts – I like to preserve them as heirlooms for future generations and washing in the machine can cause wear and damage over time. This particular quilt however was badly damaged so I had little to lose. Check out my article on cleaning and caring for quilts to learn some of my preservation tips.
Always remember, to prevent quilting fabric bleeding simply pre-wash your fabrics. If damage does occur, try this little product and you can hopefully save your quilt!
What are your experiences with fabric bleed?
You might also be interested in:
Cleaning Heirloom Quilts
Wash Appliquéd Quilt Top?
Should I Prewash My Batting?
Should I Start Prewashing My Fabric?
Get in touch! Leave a comment or email editor@nationalquilterscircle.com.
I always prewash my fabric and also put a cup of vinegar in the water to set the color.
I never prewash my fabrics but when I finish a quilt I wash it in cold water with a color catcher and I have never had any bleeding issues. If it’s a large quilt I use 2 color catchers.
I prewashed 5 yards of RED fabric for backing and binding.
I have used a total of 24 SHOUT ColorCatchers (the full box).
The sheets were very red the first 5. The remainder 19 sheets have a medium to light pink.
How many catchers/boxes do I need to make this work.
RED is my favorite color but with this piece, I will never be using red again.
I believe I will be wearing out the fabric from washing before I red the bleeding completely.
Thanks for response that will help me out.
OH!!! The first wash I used 3 catchers.
The 2nd wash, I used 2 catchers.
The 3rd wash I use 4,
4th through 8th I used 3 at each wash.
What next, please.
Hello Gloria,
Thanks for contacting the National Quilters Circle with your question. I too love red and after creating a fun patchwork top I understand the desire to make sure there isn’t any “bleed” after the quilt is complete. There are other methods that can be used. Since the quilt is not completed yet, Retayne can be used to set the color(red) and avoid dye migrating to other parts of your work. It can usually be found at your local quilt shop or ordered online.
If you have any other questions, please chat, email, or call Customer Service. 
Sincerely,
Sarah
National Quilters Circle Video Membership
When I first used ColorCatchers, I used multiples in a single wash. However, I now use only one, not to catch all of the dye but to indicate how much dye is still running.
You and me both. I returned fabric after 6 washes equalling 6 hours of washing and the colour catchers were as black as at the start. Not fit for purpose. I have 60 fat quarters of batik at run dye and I cant use them. Any ideas please. Have tried salt, also vinegar, and colour catches. Love batiks would I buy again, no. waste of money time and effort.
I disagree with all of this. Just hearsay. Saying you don’t ever plan to wash a quilt so it can be an heirloom is ludicrous. Washing and drying from normal use DOESN’T harm your quilt. Prewashing your fabric not only alerts you to colour runs but allows you to permanently lock the colours with Retayne, it shrinks the fabric and it removes the chemicals the manufacturers put on our cottons to make them look nice. Colour Catchers are a waste of money as they only catch loose dye but can never cause it not to run again!
You really need to research the subject before writing such an uninformed article!
Hello Dawn,
Thank you for your feedback. I have forwarded your comment to the proper department. We value your opinion, and it will help with the development of our online streaming community. We will continue to listen and work hard for your complete satisfaction.
Thanks!
Hi Dawn, I agree with everything you said above. Spot on! Color Catchers only pull eyes out of the water and don’t prevent fabric from bleeding onto other fabrics. I’m finding that the key is buying quality quilt fabric and testing prior to cutting. Then treating with Retayne if I find that color has transferred in the test.
starting quilt wwith red hearts on white and not sure how to wash red before starting to cut, how do i wash the reds?
Hello Mary,
This is for members to our online community. We do have a $2.95 annual entrance offer if you are interested? This would include access to expert advice (like this), plus discounts, hours of Premium videos, etc. Below is the link to join if you are interested:
https://www.nationalquilterscircle.com/?add-to-cart-multi=1&products=1161&skipcart=1&coupon=C29706&vscid=C29706&skipcart=671111
Sincerely,
Sarah
National Quilters Circle Video Membership
I don’t prewash my fabrics before making a quilt. Actually I haven’t washed very many after completed either.
also, I have a top-load machine and find it doesn’t do a great job of cleaning, find there isn’t enough water to wash a large quilt
‬ Can you recommend an article for cleaning an old quilt that has wool batting? I have several of these and they recently go wet when the lower level of our house flooded. I dried them flat, but there is a slight odor to them. Thank you!
Dear Charlene,
Thank you for your patience, regarding your question for the experts here is the response:
Hi,
Here is a great article on caring for and cleaning older, vintage quilts:
https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-care-for-vintage-quilts-2146305
Cheers,
Ashley
National Quilters Circle
Use a cup of white vinegar ALSO in the cold water wash… it will help set the dye color and gives the fabric a nice ‘feel’ when dried.
Is it ok to preshrink instead of prewash? I put each fabric piece is in a separate bowl. I then soak fabric in very hot water (as hot as I can get it) and let it cool. I then take out each piece, wring the water out and look at the color. May be a bit yellow (from the sizing) but mostly clear. If the fabric bleeds color I repeat it again. (Still bleeding color? Then usually need to use Synthropol for blues, reds and blacks). I don’t like mixing fabric in the washer before knowing if they will bleed. Any thoughts on prewashing vs preshrinking?
Hello Jan,
This is a great idea, and is definitely something you can do. Many people pre wash as a way of pre shrinking their fabric, so you are essentially taking care of both steps at the same time.
Cheers,
Ashley
National Quilters Circle Video Membership
I have been told be my sister-in-law that you could also if you have not washed you material before beginning a quilt that once the quilt is all assembled and you need to wash it cause it got soiled that you pour 2cups of vinegar in with the quilt in the washing machine with you regular detergent and it will keep you colors from bleeding also. I then tryed it myself and it did work. So if you forget to wash or don’t like to wash you material before making your quilt then you still can wash it after it’s made with the vinegar and the colors won’t bleed. Saves time. Oh and it doesn’t smell like vinegar after washing.
I had some red batik which bled terribly. I used Synthrapol, Shout color catchers and vinegar and water to no avail. Sorry to say I pitched it.
yes, me again. Maybe NQC could let some of the manufactures know that reds, black, darker greens, blues and batiks are nortorious for running dye. In fact many of them are over dyed. Meaning too much dye is being used and not enough washing by the manufacturer is being carried out. I used to do a lot of my own dying of cotton, silk, yarns, wools, etc and know that this true. over dye and you can wash for ever to stop the run of dye.
Thank you for this tip! I prewash everything I sew but I some how end up with fabric blending once in a while. I will try these Shout Color Watchers.
Color Catcher catches color but it does not necessarily stop bleeding–for example a red I had and a purple a friend had. I treat all my commercial fabric with Retayne which is a fixative for commercially dyed fabrics and have not had a problem with bleeding.
Does this just have to be done at the beginning and then it’s safe to give the quilt as a gift? Or ongoing?
Hello Betty,
Typically you should only have to do this once and then it will be safe. However, if you are still worried about fabric bleeding when washing you can contine the process for the first few times it is washed.
Cheers,
Ashley
National Quilters Circle Video Membership
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If I am giving a quilt as a gift, and I have any doubts at all about colorfastness, I give the recipient a few color catcher sheets along with a photo of the box so they can order more to use when they wash it. After that, it’s up to them to use those when they wash the quilt.
Very helpfull
I am on wash two with Bali 2 pieces of red fabric…different fabrics. The first wash was bright pink on color catcher, second wash was lighter pink. It is in for third time. I am getting high blood pressure. Ugh! Waiting to see what happens this time becaue I dumped salt and vinegar in. I need this fabric! I have $200 of dark blue and dark green Bali’s for another quilt. I am worried sick. I use my quilts and wash them at least one time a year in washer.
i too just washed a dark bright blue basic for the second time. Quilt store said i didn’t need to wash it, but washed it anyway with a little salt, laundry soap and a Shout color catcher. The catcher came out dark blue, second wash with white vinegar and another Shout. Came out lighter blue but now afraid it will still bleed onto white quilt block. Sooo happy that I didn’t take the quilt stores advice but any advice would be appreciated, maybe can’t use it :/
i too just washed a dark bright blue batic for the second time. Quilt store said i didn’t need to wash it, but washed it anyway with a little salt, laundry soap and a Shout color catcher. The catcher came out dark blue, second wash with white vinegar and another Shout. Came out lighter blue but now afraid it will still bleed onto white quilt block. Sooo happy that I didn’t take the quilt stores advice but any advice would be appreciated, maybe can’t use it :/
Use Retayne or Synthropol. I use it with all my batiks and it sets the dye and gets rid of the excess. I don’t bother much with color catchers with batiks, as it would take forever to get them to be white. I use the other products and have washed quilts with red batiks and have not had any runs. I do wash my quilts, as they are used!
How much Synthropol do you put in washer to how much water? Regular wash? With soap?
Hello Pam,
Please follow the manufacturer’s instructions located on the bottle of Synthrapol itself, or this can be found wherever you purchase it from -whether that’s in store or online.
Cheers,
Ashley
National Quilters Circle Video Membership
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Retayne does work really well to fix dyes – I had a piece of fabric that I loved but it just kept bleeding after 5 or 6 washes using both color catcher sheets and a salt/vinegar wash. Retayne finally took care of it, but I am NOT going to put it with white fabric in the quilt just because I don’t trust it.
When tie dying I use salt to bleed the colour & make the unique design, salt doesn’t stop the colour run it causes it. to stop colour
writing in from New Zealand. We dont or I havent seen retayne we do get synthropol. I have used the latter for wool, yarn, silk fabric when dying with success, however, I applied the dye thereby it was controled. With the batik and cotton fabric with or without colour catchers it is not always sucessful. This is not your fault it is the manufacturers as they are using too much dye, over dying, and not washing the excess out as it would take too much water. They put that on to you. What can you do? Return the fabric to the shop with your colour catchers as proof. Maybe they can get through to the manufacturers. I not usually this annoyed. We all have the same problem too much dye being used.
I did a queen size Grandpa’s Buzzsaw quilt in red and 30’s fabric. It bleed so I used a whole box of Shout color catchers on the second wash. This took out every bit of red out of the white and pale colors.
I also use Shout before I sew my fabrics. I had a t shirt I had purchased years ago, and when I washed it the logo made everything pink. I rewashed it with a shout sheet and it camr out right away. Have some on hand always.
I have used everything. It is Bali fabric…a batik. It is still bleeding after three catchers from Bounce and vinegar, salt, etc.
Synthrapol has worked well for me with bleed from purchased hand dyed fabric used in small amounts for applique highlighting details. Good luck
Recently had a quilt that I used a flannel backing on, and after I finish a quilt I always wash it and did throw in a Shout Color Catcher. Regardless the turquoise on the front bled to the flannel back and made some spots. I threw it back in for a second and then a third wash, both times with Shout and Carbona Color Grabber sheets. The Color Grabber sheets were much darker in color than the shout and were grabbing more of the dye. I didn’t get all of it out but most of it. I am convinced tho that Color Grabber sheets are much better than Shout and will use them from now on.
I have used color catchers and they have worked very nicely. Also, I have used Biz (I like the liquid best) and it works really well on all kinds of spots,stains including blood.
I have purchased some 1900 flags that were part of a gift in cigar boxes to make a quilt. I learned they are not colorfast, water will make the colors run. How can I pervert this? Thank you, Roxanne Schulze
Hello Roxanne,
Generally I would recommend a product called Synthrapol:
https://www.dharmatrading.com/chemicals/synthrapol-detergent.html
Synthrapol is used as both a pre-wash and as an after-wash. A “must have” for dyers! New – low foam version is also available.
I would recommend, however, trying this out on one first to ensure it works before washing all of the flags.
Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Ashley NQC Video Membership
We’d love to have you be a part of our community. We are convinced you will enjoy the benefits of becoming a member and having access to the best instructional how to videos and professional tips. We would like to offer you a special promotion for your first year membership.
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