In alt.home.repair, on Sun, 3 Jan 2021 14:08:50 -0500, Witherspoon
wrote:

Ok, pretty new to washing blankets in general, but finally got a dryer a
while back that can dry on low heat, which seems to be a requirement for
many blankets, especially down. Today, I'm trying to wash and dry an
older blanket I found in a storage bin. It's a comforter, but not down
and I suspect either poly or cotton filling. I've washed it twice in
the washer so far and still the wash water is brown. Could it be that

When I have clothes that are really dirty, I put it through the wash
part, then the next step drains it half way, then I advance the timer to
where it drains it all the way, and then I start frrom the beginning
again.

Even before then I pre-soak in the washing machine, for up to 12 hours
if something is really dirty. Soaking doesn't wear fabric out like
washing might (does it?) 50 years ago I think pre-soaking stops working
after an hour but new detergents have enzymes and I think they take time
to work, or maybe better put, they keep working, if something is really
dirty. Enzymes are catalysts so they should be able to keep working,
but soap and plain detergent, idont' think does. Might elp to agitate
for a minute every few hours, but I don't do that.


dirty, should I yet wash it again, or is something coming out of the
blanket? It is blue in color.

Yet the draining water is brown. No trace of blue?

Has it never been washed before? If it's old, it should have but maybe
not. Maybe that's why it's so dirty.

Did it look dirty everywhere before you started washing? If it was
evenly dirty and didn't show it, it might well not show it if you quit
now.

I've been using gentle cycle and a
gentle detergent, no fabric softener. Thanks!

I would finish up this cycle, dry it, and use it for a while, and decide
then if it's still dirty. If it's still dirty, the previous owner (your
grandparents?) must have used it a lot when it was dirty. Do you think
you're better than they are? If they can use it when it's dirty so can
you.


If you use a top sheet, you don't even touch it, so it's not like the
dirt will come off on you. So use it half or 3/4 the time you normally
would and then wash it again.

You don't want to wash it to death today.