Cool, that's a good new. And I would like to share a Launderometer, which may help your washing, too.

That's good news, Frances!

After I posted, I went and checked and the last wash last night appeared to have done the trick. The color catcher was white, no color transferred when I ironed them also.

Frances

Thanks Vicki and Michelle i found your replies very interesting, Vicki loved reading your blog with so much information on this subject.

Lorchen, I just used synthrapol on my quilt with the deep red border in my front loading automatic machine at 40º and it came out perfect. I used about 50mls along with 2 colour catchers just in case. It worked a treat. Rita.

I'd recommend that you let them soak over night. Fill the washer with the hottest water possible with Synthrapol. Agitate the fabrics a bit and then leave them to soak overnight. If your tap water isn't really hot, add some boiling water.

I'm washing 11 similar commercial fabrics in the washer. I've been alternating the Retayne and Synthrapol and something is still running. I'm not sure what temp I've been using, I'll try it again with hot water. If that doesn't work, any suggestions? They are for a block swap and I don't want something ruining other people's quilts.

Frances

Thank Michelle! I just love it how any question gets answered in such detail and so quickly here in the forum!

Lorchen wrote:

Lorchen, The way I understand the two:

Retayne - It RETAINS the dye. So use it to prewash commercial fabrics before they are cut and pieced into a quilt or garment. You can group like colors together in the wash: Reds, blues, etc. Unless, as Vicki says, there is a lot of white with those colors, then it is a risk. Retayne will set any errant dye in the wash water onto the fabric.

Synthrapol - This is a detergent and is used to wash quilts etc after construction. It will lift any errant dye off the fabrics and keep them suspended in the water, preventing them from setting on any parts of the quilt. Color Catchers work similarly, but I cannot comment on whether one is better than the other. You can use both without worry in the same wash.

As for shelf life... I had a bottle of Retayne for many years (at least 5 or more), half used. I went to use it recently, and it had clouded. I tossed it. I think once opened, and after a few years, you would be wise to do a test on a scrap of red, to see if it still works. JMHO

I honestly don't know for sure about Retayne but I expect it has a very long shelf life. I know I had it on my shelf for several years before I used mine and, unfortunately, it still worked!

Vicki
http://vickiwelsh.com

Thank you very much, Vicki! I have always been unsure about the difference between Retayne and Synthrapol. So it's best to continue using the colour catchers and keep the Retayne for when I want to make a single fabric colourfast.

Just one more question..... I always have just one more question..... Has Retayne a 'shelf life' or will it still be effective in, let's say, 4 years time??

Lorchen,
What are you trying to accomplish? If you are trying to get all of the loose dye molecules out of your fabric you do not want to use Retayne. You want to use Synthrapol or some other detergent with your color catchers. Retayne causes loose dye molecules to fuse to your fabric. That's fine if you are working with solid fabrics but if you are working with a red and white print, for example, the red molecules will stick to the fabric turning the white areas pink. Here are 2 blog posts that I have written about Retayne and color fastness in fabric. Maybe one of them will help answer your question.

http://vickiwelsh.typepad.com/field_trips_in_fiber/2011/08/color-fastness-of-hand-dyed-fabrics.html

http://vickiwelsh.typepad.com/field_trips_in_fiber/2011/08/color-fastness-of-hand-dyed-fabrics.html

Vicki Welsh
http://vickiwelsh.com

I, too, use Retayne in the sink using hot water, stir it around, and let it sit a while. Then rinse in cold water. Works just fine.

I always handwash with the Retayne. I put the hot water in a basin, mix in some Retayne, then add the fabric. I usually put on rubber gloves and swish the fabric a bit and cover as much of it with water as I can. Then I let it soak however long it says on the bottle.