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
dirty, should I yet wash it again, or is something coming out of the
blanket? It is blue in color. I've been using gentle cycle and a
gentle detergent, no fabric softener. Thanks!

On 1/3/2021 2:08 PM, 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.Â* Today, I'm trying to wash and dry an
older blanket I found in a storage bin.Â* It's a comforter, but not down
and I suspect either poly or cotton filling.Â* I've washed it twice in
the washer so far and still the wash water is brown.Â* Could it be that
dirty, should I yet wash it again, or is something coming out of the
blanket?Â* It is blue in color.Â* I've been using gentle cycle and a
gentle detergent, no fabric softener.Â* Thanks!

If the water turns brown I'd worry that it is contaminated with
something. Dead bugs? Decomposing feathers? Nest of cockroaches?

Something not right. Never heard of a blanket for comforter turning the
water brown.

On 1/3/21 2:36 PM, Heywood wrote:
On 1/3/2021 2:08 PM, 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.Â* Today, I'm trying to wash and dry
an older blanket I found in a storage bin.Â* It's a comforter, but not
down and I suspect either poly or cotton filling.Â* I've washed it
twice in the washer so far and still the wash water is brown.Â* Could
it be that dirty, should I yet wash it again, or is something coming
out of the blanket?Â* It is blue in color.Â* I've been using gentle
cycle and a gentle detergent, no fabric softener.Â* Thanks!

If the water turns brown I'd worry that it is contaminated with
something.Â* Dead bugs?Â* Decomposing feathers?Â*Â* Nest of cockroaches?

Something not right.Â* Never heard of a blanket for comforter turning the
water brown.

Maybe he could wash something else he knows is clean as a test.

On Sun, 3 Jan 2021 14:42:32 -0600, Dean Hoffman
wrote:

On 1/3/21 2:36 PM, Heywood wrote:
On 1/3/2021 2:08 PM, 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 dirty, should I yet wash it again, or is something coming
out of the blanket?* It is blue in color.* I've been using gentle
cycle and a gentle detergent, no fabric softener.* Thanks!

If the water turns brown I'd worry that it is contaminated with
something.* Dead bugs?* Decomposing feathers?** Nest of cockroaches?

Something not right.* Never heard of a blanket for comforter turning the
water brown.

Maybe he could wash something else he knows is clean as a test.

Or just run a cycle with nothing in it.

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.

On 1/3/21 10:55 PM, micky wrote:
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?

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.

It was in a storage bin in an enclosed outdoor space alongside of my
house. I wasn't able to find some lightweight down blankets and turned
out they were in the bin too. However, I washed them both a week ago
and they turned out fine with a single wash.


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.

Yes, it was visibly dirty just about everywhere!

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.


Well, I ran it through a wash/rinse cycle four times today. By the time
I reached the fourth cycle, just mild brown water after I did a second
rinse. Hard to believe it could have been that dirty and why the down
throw in the same bin did not show nearly this much dirt.

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.


I've washed and am now in the process of drying it. That's as far as
I'm going to go. If there are still any issues when I try using it over
the next few days, I'm just going to buy another. The down throws
turned out great and are quite warm, but being throw and not twin size,
they are a little small for the bed. This comforter is twin and should
be dry soon. Not sure if it has cotton or poly filling, but will see
how well it keeps warmth tonight. Of course, I couldn't find any
washing instructions on it, so used the same process I used with the
down a week ago.

My only guess, aside from it really being that dirty, is that dye or
something else was dissolving with every wash. Just a guess.

A quick update on this comforter. After thoroughly drying it last
night, I was going to try it out on the bed, but it still had a smell so
decided to try a vinegar, baking soda, soap soak in the sink overnight.
Today, still some brown residue so drained, filled and did several hand
washes and rinses. No matter how many times rinsed, still some brown
residue. It looks like small particles in the water each time. Only
guess I can make is that something in the comforter is dissolving each
time it is washed. Maybe the dissolving started when it was in the bin
in outdoor protected storage so long. Anyway, trashed it after 6 or so
times trying to wash in the sink. Time to get a new one.

On 1/4/2021 8:30 AM, Witherspoon wrote:
A quick update on this comforter.Â* After thoroughly drying it last
night, I was going to try it out on the bed, but it still had a smell so
decided to try a vinegar, baking soda, soap soak in the sink overnight.
Today, still some brown residue so drained, filled and did several hand
washes and rinses.Â* No matter how many times rinsed, still some brown
residue.Â* It looks like small particles in the water each time.Â* Only
guess I can make is that something in the comforter is dissolving each
time it is washed.Â* Maybe the dissolving started when it was in the bin
in outdoor protected storage so long.Â* Anyway, trashed it after 6 or so
times trying to wash in the sink.Â* Time to get a new one.

Did you cut it open to see what is inside? We want to know.

On 1/4/21 11:34 AM, Bob F wrote:
On 1/4/2021 8:30 AM, Witherspoon wrote:
A quick update on this comforter.Â* After thoroughly drying it last
night, I was going to try it out on the bed, but it still had a smell
so decided to try a vinegar, baking soda, soap soak in the sink
overnight. Today, still some brown residue so drained, filled and did
several hand washes and rinses.Â* No matter how many times rinsed,
still some brown residue.Â* It looks like small particles in the water
each time.Â* Only guess I can make is that something in the comforter
is dissolving each time it is washed.Â* Maybe the dissolving started
when it was in the bin in outdoor protected storage so long.Â* Anyway,
trashed it after 6 or so times trying to wash in the sink.Â* Time to
get a new one.

Did you cut it open to see what is inside? We want to know.


You know, I thought about it and still could as trash pick up won't be
until tomorrow. Therefore, I will cut it open to find out and report
back.

Right now, I just got done washing a down throw that was in the same
bin. It was dirty, much like the comforter, but after a single wash,
there was no significant discoloration of the rinse water after the
second rinse (a bit discolored after the first). It is drying now. So
that points to something dissolving in the comforter even more. Enough
theory, time to cut one of the squares and see.....

On 1/4/21 1:43 PM, Witherspoon wrote:
On 1/4/21 11:34 AM, Bob F wrote:
On 1/4/2021 8:30 AM, Witherspoon wrote:
A quick update on this comforter.Â* After thoroughly drying it last
night, I was going to try it out on the bed, but it still had a smell
so decided to try a vinegar, baking soda, soap soak in the sink
overnight. Today, still some brown residue so drained, filled and did
several hand washes and rinses.Â* No matter how many times rinsed,
still some brown residue.Â* It looks like small particles in the water
each time.Â* Only guess I can make is that something in the comforter
is dissolving each time it is washed.Â* Maybe the dissolving started
when it was in the bin in outdoor protected storage so long.Â* Anyway,
trashed it after 6 or so times trying to wash in the sink.Â* Time to
get a new one.

Did you cut it open to see what is inside? We want to know.


You know, I thought about it and still could as trash pick up won't be
until tomorrow.Â* Therefore, I will cut it open to find out and report back.

Right now, I just got done washing a down throw that was in the same
bin.Â* It was dirty, much like the comforter, but after a single wash,
there was no significant discoloration of the rinse water after the
second rinse (a bit discolored after the first).Â* It is drying now.Â* So
that points to something dissolving in the comforter even more.Â* Enough
theory, time to cut one of the squares and see.....



Ok, so cut open one of the end squares near the edge. Appears to be a
flat, white poly filling (probably pretty much flat because I hadn't
tried drying it this time). With the square I cut open, perfectly
white. Seems intact, but when I gently pull it apart, I could see that
the particles I was seeing in the rinse water might be from it. Anyway,
without cutting additional squares, which I'm not going to do now, I
still don't know for a fact what caused the discoloration and odor, but
it has to be some dissolving squares somewhere else in the blanket, or
some extremely dirty ones holding dirt. But that much dirt?

I'm not a washing expert, but out of many things I've washed over the
years, this is the first item I've ever come across that wouldn't come
clean!

On 1/4/2021 10:51 AM, Witherspoon wrote:
On 1/4/21 1:43 PM, Witherspoon wrote:
On 1/4/21 11:34 AM, Bob F wrote:
On 1/4/2021 8:30 AM, Witherspoon wrote:
A quick update on this comforter.Â* After thoroughly drying it last
night, I was going to try it out on the bed, but it still had a
smell so decided to try a vinegar, baking soda, soap soak in the
sink overnight. Today, still some brown residue so drained, filled
and did several hand washes and rinses.Â* No matter how many times
rinsed, still some brown residue.Â* It looks like small particles in
the water each time.Â* Only guess I can make is that something in the
comforter is dissolving each time it is washed.Â* Maybe the
dissolving started when it was in the bin in outdoor protected
storage so long.Â* Anyway, trashed it after 6 or so times trying to
wash in the sink.Â* Time to get a new one.

Did you cut it open to see what is inside? We want to know.


You know, I thought about it and still could as trash pick up won't be
until tomorrow.Â* Therefore, I will cut it open to find out and report
back.

Right now, I just got done washing a down throw that was in the same
bin.Â* It was dirty, much like the comforter, but after a single wash,
there was no significant discoloration of the rinse water after the
second rinse (a bit discolored after the first).Â* It is drying now.
So that points to something dissolving in the comforter even more.
Enough theory, time to cut one of the squares and see.....



Ok, so cut open one of the end squares near the edge.Â* Appears to be a
flat, white poly filling (probably pretty much flat because I hadn't
tried drying it this time).Â* With the square I cut open, perfectly
white.Â* Seems intact, but when I gently pull it apart, I could see that
the particles I was seeing in the rinse water might be from it.Â* Anyway,
without cutting additional squares, which I'm not going to do now, I
still don't know for a fact what caused the discoloration and odor, but
it has to be some dissolving squares somewhere else in the blanket, or
some extremely dirty ones holding dirt. But that much dirt?

I'm not a washing expert, but out of many things I've washed over the
years, this is the first item I've ever come across that wouldn't come
clean!


At least nobody can say you didn't give it a good try.

On 1/4/21 2:09 PM, Bob F wrote:
On 1/4/2021 10:51 AM, Witherspoon wrote:
On 1/4/21 1:43 PM, Witherspoon wrote:
On 1/4/21 11:34 AM, Bob F wrote:
On 1/4/2021 8:30 AM, Witherspoon wrote:
A quick update on this comforter.Â* After thoroughly drying it last
night, I was going to try it out on the bed, but it still had a
smell so decided to try a vinegar, baking soda, soap soak in the
sink overnight. Today, still some brown residue so drained, filled
and did several hand washes and rinses.Â* No matter how many times
rinsed, still some brown residue.Â* It looks like small particles in
the water each time.Â* Only guess I can make is that something in
the comforter is dissolving each time it is washed.Â* Maybe the
dissolving started when it was in the bin in outdoor protected
storage so long.Â* Anyway, trashed it after 6 or so times trying to
wash in the sink.Â* Time to get a new one.

Did you cut it open to see what is inside? We want to know.


You know, I thought about it and still could as trash pick up won't
be until tomorrow.Â* Therefore, I will cut it open to find out and
report back.

Right now, I just got done washing a down throw that was in the same
bin.Â* It was dirty, much like the comforter, but after a single wash,
there was no significant discoloration of the rinse water after the
second rinse (a bit discolored after the first).Â* It is drying now.
So that points to something dissolving in the comforter even more.
Enough theory, time to cut one of the squares and see.....



Ok, so cut open one of the end squares near the edge.Â* Appears to be a
flat, white poly filling (probably pretty much flat because I hadn't
tried drying it this time).Â* With the square I cut open, perfectly
white.Â* Seems intact, but when I gently pull it apart, I could see
that the particles I was seeing in the rinse water might be from it.
Anyway, without cutting additional squares, which I'm not going to do
now, I still don't know for a fact what caused the discoloration and
odor, but it has to be some dissolving squares somewhere else in the
blanket, or some extremely dirty ones holding dirt. But that much dirt?

I'm not a washing expert, but out of many things I've washed over the
years, this is the first item I've ever come across that wouldn't come
clean!


At least nobody can say you didn't give it a good try.


No, I guess not. I became more curious than anything else to find out
the reason for the discolored water, so went a little beyond what I
normally would have. However, when the use of energy (electric dryer
and washer) begin to outweigh any possible use of the comforter, it was
time to move on. I use low heat on the dryer, but at least 2-3 cycles
still uses energy.

On Mon, 4 Jan 2021 13:43:56 -0500, Witherspoon wrote:

On 1/4/21 11:34 AM, Bob F wrote:
On 1/4/2021 8:30 AM, Witherspoon wrote:
A quick update on this comforter.* After thoroughly drying it last
night, I was going to try it out on the bed, but it still had a smell
so decided to try a vinegar, baking soda, soap soak in the sink
overnight. Today, still some brown residue so drained, filled and did
several hand washes and rinses.* No matter how many times rinsed,
still some brown residue.* It looks like small particles in the water
each time.* Only guess I can make is that something in the comforter
is dissolving each time it is washed.* Maybe the dissolving started
when it was in the bin in outdoor protected storage so long.* Anyway,
trashed it after 6 or so times trying to wash in the sink.* Time to
get a new one.

Did you cut it open to see what is inside? We want to know.


You know, I thought about it and still could as trash pick up won't be
until tomorrow. Therefore, I will cut it open to find out and report
back.

Right now, I just got done washing a down throw that was in the same
bin. It was dirty, much like the comforter, but after a single wash,
there was no significant discoloration of the rinse water after the
second rinse (a bit discolored after the first). It is drying now. So
that points to something dissolving in the comforter even more. Enough
theory, time to cut one of the squares and see.....


Maybe it was something that used to be alive and the discoloration was
blood. When you cut it open, don't release the Kraken.

On Mon, 4 Jan 2021 11:30:29 -0500, Witherspoon posted for all of us to
digest...


A quick update on this comforter. After thoroughly drying it last
night, I was going to try it out on the bed, but it still had a smell so
decided to try a vinegar, baking soda, soap soak in the sink overnight.
Today, still some brown residue so drained, filled and did several hand
washes and rinses. No matter how many times rinsed, still some brown
residue. It looks like small particles in the water each time. Only
guess I can make is that something in the comforter is dissolving each
time it is washed. Maybe the dissolving started when it was in the bin
in outdoor protected storage so long. Anyway, trashed it after 6 or so
times trying to wash in the sink. Time to get a new one.

I was just thinking... If it's synthetic maybe it's just the filling breaking
down and deteriorating? I think 86ing it was the best idea. China has plenty of
cheap ones to replace it

--
Tekkie