Woolite?

[HalbertMusik]

Hello all-

Nearly all of the instructions that I have read for stithing say that we should not use "delicates soaps" or Woolite for washing our finished projects. Why is this? Has anyone actually tried?

William David

[Athalie]

I have used baby shampoo (imagine this is a delicate soap) to wash my projects, for over 50 years and have never had a problem.

[MaggieM1750]

It probably leaves a residue on the fabric. I think Woollite also has a fabric softener in the soap.

I use Fabri-Care needlework soap. Its sold in a container similar to a small jar of peanut butter, or Betty Crocker frosting. I've had it for AGES and the container is almost full. I've seen it available at many different needlework shops.

[NeedleAndFork]

I was told when I got into knitting years and years ago that woolite was the worst possible thing I could use on my handknits. I was told that it was unnecessarily harsh, and nearly impossible to rinse out completely.. and that the left over residue would eventually degrade the wool. Instead I bought a large bottle of Eucelan and later some Soak.. both are no-rinse washes designed for hand knits and delicates that are gentle on the item while still getting them clean without having to agitate and scrub the item. Yes, they're pricey but a little bit goes a long long way. Just mix a bit with water, and submerge the item and let it soak.. the washes lift all oils and dirt off the fabric and dissolve them in the water, which you then drain away. I always give them an extra rinse, but the great thing is that these washes are formulated to be safe enough that any residue left in the item won't ruin them.

[Rose]

Over the 25+ years that I have been crocheting, cross stitching and quilting I have used any number of products to wash my stitching in that includes Woolite. I have never seen any adverse effects to any of the materials.

I have heard that Woolite has a touch of bleach in it so it can, maybe, possibly damage your material but so far I am good and nothing has ever been ruined.

[Allyn]

Any laundry detergent or soap is not good for needlework in the long term. . . meaning if you are stitching something you want to last for years, don't use them. Laundry soaps and detergents leave residues. . .fabric softeners and conditioners.. that aren't good for 'conservation' needlework. On the other hand, if you're stitching something that's going to get washed in with the laundry -- like baby bibs, afghans, tablecloths, etc -- go ahead and wash them in laundry soap. That's going to be their life anyway, so starting them off using conservation methods doesn't make sense.

The best thing to use for needlework is a soap such as Orvus from Proctor & Gamble. It's a PH-neutral, synthetic anionic detergent with nothing added -- no dyes or fragrances or emollients or anything that gets left behind in the fabric and threads. It's water soluble in hot or cold water and it rinses out completely unlike laundry detergent -- even gentle-care ones like Woolite or Deft -- that leave behind residues and fragrances. It's sold in small containers as quilt soap, but it's way over-priced when packaged that way. A little bottle of quilt soap -- maybe 8 ozs -- costs about $10 or you can get a 7.5-lb tub of Orvus for $25. I know 7.5 pounds sounds like a lot, but I use it for all my hand washables, it makes a great clarifying shampoo, and I wash the dog with it. It's great stuff. I bought a tub of it two years ago, and even though I use it regularly, I still have over half the tub left. Orvus. . . .get it at your local feed supply store. It's packaged in bulk quantities as horse shampoo.

http://www.preservationequipment.com/St ... rvus-Paste" target="_blank

Edit:

...I use Fabri-Care needlework soap. ...

That's Orvus.