According to Beth, the chemistry behind these products simply doesn't work.

I stopped using them years ago and haven't had any problem with my fabric colors running onto other fabrics.

These things are pretty expensive to add to every load. If they don't work, that's a lot of money to waste!

BethMI

BethMI wrote:
So, washing red socks with white underwear WON'T turn anything pink because "all the dye that is 'caught' [with Color Catchers] is already in the rinse water and would just run down the drain if it didn't latch onto the sheet"?

JoAnne

Beth Ferrier was a chemistry major in college (or a biology ajor who took a lot of chemistry), and understands the chemistry behind it and that NONE OF THESE THINGS ACTUALLY WORK AND ARE A BIG WASTE OF MONEY!!

All the dye that is "caught" is already in the rinse water and would just run down the drain if it didn't latch onto the sheet. I never use'em and have no trouble with colors running.

Give it a try!

BethMI

Thanks, JoAnne!

I will always find ways to save a buck to be able to spend it on more thread and fabric! I will give this a try!

Mary Kay

So, I rarely, if ever, have used bleach. So I will need a little more instruction on this. I am assuming that after soaking the color catchers in bleach that I would need to seriously rinse the color catcher to ensure that no bleach is left in them before the second use??? Anything else I should be cautious of?

Thanks for the extra instruction!

Mary Kay[/quote]

Mary Kay,
I usually just soak them in the kitchen sink with about a gallon of water and 1/2 Cup or so of bleach. Yesterday I had about three or four dozen that needed bleaching so I just put them into the washer, filled for a small load with cold water and added three cups bleach. I soaked them for about three hours then turned on the washer to finish the wash. The have no bleach smell to them now so it's all rinsed out. I have not had any problems because of this method and I've been doing it for years. I would rather buy more fabric than spend money on more Color Catchers.

I usually throw a new Color Catcher in along with previously used ones. When I wash, it's usually a load of all the same color, I do have too much fabric.

Someone mentioned dark colors next to light colors. I took a workshop taught by Paula Reid (she's quilted for Alex and many others). She quilts as her business. She quilted one for a customer who then washed it and the dark green ran on the lighter colors. Paula suggested washing again using Color Catcher and all the green runs came out. Sounds good to me! I think that's the whole reason for the product. A great product for us, though! I've never used them when washing clothes, just my fabric.

JoAnne

I usually wash new fabrics in warm water/cold rinse and use a color catcher sheet. I always use my pinking rotary cutter just about 1/4" from each raw edge and it really doesn't take that much fabric away. I always have really good results. I also ALWAYS use the DELICATE CYCLE, use the extra large water level, and try not to put too much yardage in. For very small pieces of fabric, I put them in a mesh lingerie zipper bag and I don't pink the edges. I'm going to use the color catcher to wash quilts to freshen them just after being finished. I especially want to try the color catcher on quilts that have some very dark fabrics next to a light background. Have any of you done this? Does any bleeding occur anyway? BTW, I used the Crayola Washable Markers to mark a quilting design and I had a HORRIBLE experience--had to resort to Oxy-Clean. Judy in Torrance

I've never used a color catcher before. I do wash all my fabrics when I bring them home. I wash like colors in cold water, cold rinse. Should I do it different? What is the advantage of the catcher, especially since they sound expensive? Plus, does anyone have trick for raveling? I've tried pinking, uses up too much fabric and doesn't always work, and tried cutting a small wedge on the corners...that didn't work either. I try not to spin too long and only put in dryer for a few minutes to get most of the dampness out. Thanks for any advice. Sandi in FL

Rorimer wrote:
Wow - Great idea, JoAnne!

So, I rarely, if ever, have used bleach. So I will need a little more instruction on this. I am assuming that after soaking the color catchers in bleach that I would need to seriously rinse the color catcher to ensure that no bleach is left in them before the second use??? Anything else I should be cautious of?

Thanks for the extra instruction!

Mary Kay

thanks all for the replies. the first one i used came out the same colour it went in but i threw it away and then thought that i probably used it again they are a bit expensive here in Oz so it would be good to get more than one use out of them.
thanks again
Jenny in Oz

If anyone is into contemporary textile work, color catcher sheets can be used in that - preferably before they turn grey!

This is great info--I never thought of bleaching and reusing them. I just assumed they were "done" after absorbing alot of color. So much for package directions!

I regularly use them again. I also add a new one or two along with the old ones. I bleach them after they're well colored. Right now I have a load of them soaking in the washer with 3 cups of bleach. The other day I washed three loads of new red flannel sheets (for charity quilt backings) and threw in lots of used Color Catchers along with a couple new ones. They were all such a dark red when they came out.

Shhh, we must not tell the makers of this product that we are reusing them, they already cost enough and they'll probably start making them thinner so we can't reuse them.

JoAnne

I use mine many times until it gets like a rag; sometimes adding a new one to the wash, too. The dull grey color LadyRags mentioned is probably due to the combination of colors that it had absorbed.
Connie in NE Ohio

I do not think it works after the first wash. I too have forgotten I left them in but I noted that the "new" color catcher I put in when prewashing dark fabrics picked up color... the older color catcher I forgot to take out was a dull grey color so I do not think it worked at all.


I think you have to experiment but until you are absolutely sure.... put a new one in when you do the really dark or bleeding fabrics.