Retayne or Synthrapol: Prevent and Reverse Color Bleeding

[@lindapucillo3493]

I use Retayne with every quilt that has dark or bright fabrics. Never had a problem when washing them. Was told to use this product at first class. I use precuts a lot in my quilts, so pre washing them isn’t really recommended as they turn into an ugly, frayed mess. Since I have a front loader washing machine, I use a giant plastic bin for the soaking. My husband has to empty it as it weighs a ton! I fill it with the hottest tap water as well as adding water boiled on the stove. It is a production, and not something I enjoy, but it is worth it to not have to worry. Thanks for the very clear explanation about using these two products. Very helpful. Love your videos, your energy and enthusiasm is contagious!

[@heatherangel6600]

wow this is what i want to do as i know my quilts are going to bleed after they are made ...so i just wash it in the washing machine with the retayne

[@patriciabecerra5334]

Excellent tutorial! I was very confused on the difference between these two items. Not anymore after watching your video. Thanks so much for sharing!

[@SashasRevenge]

This is AWESOME! this is the first time that I’ve ever heard of these things and I’m sure that I’m not the only one. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH! This is a life saver. Have a great life! ❤️👍🏼

[@deborahgiles8214]

Got your printable. Thanks for the straightforward info. I dye fabric frequently and use Synthrapol in the final wash to make my hand dyes "quilt-ready" but I didn't know how the Retayne was meant to work or quite what the different between them is. I have printed the printable and that's going on the cork board in my studio. :-) As you say, we are lucky to have great quality fabrics so this isn't an issue very often but I recently starting prepping some new Christmas fabrics with a lot of red and omg several of them bled!! So I had to back up and treat them and retest. What a headache, but better than finding the bleeding after sewing them into the quilt!

[@SuperBriet]

Excellent and fun tutorial. Thanks, Rob, for ALL your tutorials! My concern is quilts that are washed after finishing them. I do not prewash, but do use color catchers in the wash when finished. I've never had a problem--but, there's always a first!

[@judygoll7016]

i never prewashed either but my last two quilts even w color catchers have run into problems - think it is some of the new fabrics, ugh sooo will synthrapol after this!

[@amyoungil]

Compare the two pieces of fabric at @3:42 and @8:58 for his synthrapol bled-color experiments. Thanks for posting!

[@1amKimmy]

This was really helpful - thank you! I have both of these products as they were recommended by an instructor, but afterwards, I got confused on which one to use when. Seeing your tutorial made it so much easier to sort out the uses of these two products. :)

[@ManSewingVids]

+1amKimmy so glad that this tutorial was helpful for you! :)

[@mariannes5309]

Very informative tutorial - loved all your preparation Saved me lots of time. I gotta admit, you're growing on me...

[@charlenejutras1595]

Great video as always! Just a comment about vintage quilt tops...I have dissolved several denture tablets in a bathtub with a few inches of water and immersed stained tops with a fair amount of success. Probably would not try on anything valuable, but it worked for my purposes.

[@SashasRevenge]

I had to come back to say thank you so much for the printable instructions for both products, great to have these handy! Also, info on how to purchase them. Sewing Man= Awesome person. 😎

[@anazharden7928]

Instead of using a pot can i just use a washing machine? Still using retayne and hot water

[@AdiarraS]

Awesome tutorial on how to use these products. I am ALWAYS worrying about my batiks bleeding!! Super informative and awesomely fun as usual! Thanks! =)

[@ManSewingVids]

+Cheryl Land well worry no more, my friend! We've got you covered!

[@aprilbuckland7955]

please excuse this question if it is stupid, however... Could Synthrapol be used to remove hair dye from a pillowcase and the top of my 22 year old quilt? Apparently my hairdresser missed a spot while rinsing my hair and I cannot remove the hair dye using normal washing products, including Clorox 2 for colour. Thanks!

[@vinr1187]

What if I had a paint on the purple fabric which is dyed ? Will this chemical remove the bleed from the painted dye design as well as the original colour ?

[@nievesnonconocido644]

I'm in love with your kitchen tool !!!!!Why have I not the same ? ;)

[@anitaleach520]

So what determines which product you should use in your fabrics?

[@crochet9100]

Great idea, and great products. My grandma used to throw new fabric into the washing machine, add some cider vinegar and a few spoons of salt, run through the cycle, then dry, and they never bled after that. I'm not a natural products Nazi--whatever works and is handy is fine with me. If it just happens to be natural, so much the better, but it's not necessary. I've used both of these and they work wonderfully. Thing is if you don't have any on hand or the store is closed or whatever, everybody has salt and vinegar around the house, and it's a bit less expensive. (Although if you've bought all that lovely fabric, what's a few more dollars...)

[@janidemaree9704]

Where can it be purchased?

[@linsierra1749]

Please don't use the word "Nazi" in this context. It is something that many of us are sensitive to, with our fathers or grandfathers fighting actual Nazis in WWII or with people of Jewish, Roma, or people of other heritages targeted by them. It's insensitive.

[@amandaregner2093]

If using Retayne in the washing machine (specifically a front loader), where would we put the product? Right in with the fabric? In the detergent dispenser? Thanks!

[@rrmother3748]

Can't use it in a front loader - not enough water in the cycle to make it work correctly

[@ridewfo1]

I had red white and blue star, the red ran in to white, now pink in white. I washed it again and sprayed all the white with shout and added three sheets of color guard sheets, still pink. I did not prewash the 5" squares before sewing and quilting it. If I use the synthrapol will that light the blue and red squares and puul the pink from the white squares?

[@karenharvey5591]

I know this is old, but excellent video. Thanks Rob!

[@lefur8]

Can these be used on silk?

[@longlivepeacemakers]

I'm concerned about my old stuff when I started last year. Can I save them?

[@pattymannon3025]

I have already washed my quilt and dried it. can I use the synthrapol in the rewash.

[@rebekah202003]

I tried Synthrapol but it didn't work. I had red bleed onto the rest of the quilt. So frustrating

[@granjmy]

This might help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZrRh59jm9J1orc

[@granjmy]

@@rebekah202003 kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZrRh59jm9J1orc Might help.

[@jonis9393]

I'm making a signature quilt where pigma micron pens were used for the signatures. It's a quilt-as-you-=go project, so I'm wondering if the retayne might be a good step for me to add before I join my blocks together? All fabrics used were Moda, and nothing was prewashed. Thoughts??

[@ecopotterscience]

I would be interested to know the answer as well because I was thinking of maybe doing something similar. I don't know if it would make the ink run though?

[@melissachvojicek5968]

Can you use this on clothing items purchased? I have a brand I love but after a wash looks terribly faded. Could I try to use to lock in color?

[@dankthompson]

When you prep the water with Retayne, have you ever had color bleed when you first soak the fabric? When I lifted the fabric out of the water, the water coming from the fabic was clear. Is that normal? 🤔

[@ExcelsiorW]

Does anyone know if Retayne works on worsted woolen fabric?

[@phenomenal_woman]

Greetings, the iron is cute, what type is it?

[@namazuki-sq5jf]

hi i don't know if you're going to see this but does this also work for silk because i plan to have a off white coat with red silk lining and i'm trying to stop it from bleeding before it's made into a coat there's a reason I want the lining to be red if it was a regular situation i would have pick white off white ivory or yellow

[@janiceconway5542]

I have always been afraid to prewash. Does the fabric not start to fray? Also what if you are using precuts. Would love some help on this as I have only been quilting a year and so far each time I give away a quilt I give a wash sheet to the person and tell them to use it when they was for the first time. I am afraid that y the time they wash it they will forget. Help Rob please.

[@collettewilson5768]

+Janice Conway i'm like you ''afraid to prewash because of fraying --i tried an experiment a few weeks back i made my quilt top and then put it in hot hot water in the kitchen sink for a few minutes ---then i put it through the hot dryer --- it will be sent to england in a few weeks ---so far it looks good i try this again in the future ---

[@ecopotterscience]

I am in the same boat. I have a bunch of 2" squares and I don't want them to get ruined in the wash or dryer. I was thinking about putting them in a mesh bag but I don't know if that would work?

[@deborahgiles8214]

Yes fabrics will fray somewhat in the wash. This is an issue with precuts or if you have barely enough of a particular fabric. If you can't afford to lose even an inch or are using precuts and really want to pre-wash I would soak or gently agitate by hand in the retayne to minimize fraying. I would let fabric pieces drip on a rack until damp then dry-iron on cotton-linen setting the rest of the way dry to get the preshinking action of heat on wet cotton. Handle gently throughout the process. You could try the mesh bag for machine washing but if you really can't afford any threads to fray away, I would do it by hand.

[@vivianlipscomb599]

Could you use retayne on fabric that is not a solid color? I have some quilting cotton that has red roses covering most of its white(ish) background, and it is still bleeding onto white despite washing it twice. It also drenched the 5+ color catchers bright pink that I put in each load.

[@mandimoo87]

How do fabric producers use this? If I dye some fabric do I use synthrapol to remove last traces of dye and the retayne to give longevity?

[@BLANCAP1000]

Is there something in the market that will allow color fastness on already upholstered fabric

[@collettewilson5768]

very awesome ---i want to make my daughter a skate board quilt using bright colors ---i was thinking how i could keep the colors from running together ---while i have your attention i watched a tutorial with you and jenny i saw some of your art work ---i would love to use a few of your ''under the deck'' squares ---i also want to use colored wheels along with the black wheels but im not sure on my color coordination could you help???

[@BLANCAP1000]

So does soda ash work in the same way retayne does or does it serve a different purpose?

[@ifeelikedyeing]

This was epic. Thank you

[@Mickey-jn8hz]

I bought fabric that bled on a test piece, if I wash it, I will have to wash all the other fabric that I want to put in my quilt. What can I safely do to prevent bleeding without having to wash all my fabric? Please help.

[@warialdasue]

I’ve already washed my seven red cotton fabrics twice, and the red is still bleeding. I now have Retayne, is it too late? My fabric cost a fortune, it’s to make a quilt for y grandsons wedding.

[@cchandler2656]

Just got my bottle in the mail. The Retayne label says " for cotton fabric". Will it not work on anything else?

[@BeatlesFanSonia]

Would this work for laser printer toner on fabric?

[@jenapope8814]

Love the science class!

[@alli999999]

why did he say to just put some in the wash? I thought it needed 140 degrees?

[@ManSewingVids]

+Allison LiBengood This will explain it for you. mansewing.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/retayne-synthrapol.pdf

[@alli999999]

+Man Sewing wow thanks!

[@amberleyvas9125]

How do I wash a 2 color tone dress black & black does bleed?

[@kathymoose7354]

Will retayne work on inkjet printer. printing quilt pictures so the color want bleed

[@sandygrogg1203]

Fun video.... What about Color Catchers? I wash all of my quilts with a couple of Color Catchers... Never had any bleeding... But them, I always use gold water...

[@ManSewingVids]

+Sandy Grogg color catchers are a great alternative as well!

[@nataloves]

awesome! hooray for stitch science! can i throw in retayne together with color catchers or does that defeat the purpose? i hate sorting my wash unless i really have to!

[@ManSewingVids]

+Natalia D Great question, we haven't personally tried that so we aren't sure how to answer your question. Here are the tips we have for working with both products: mansewing.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/retayne-synthrapol.pdf

[@patdavies2048]

Another video i watched on RvsS used them and repeated process till catchers were clear …

[@kristarodrigues4813]

I have a quilt I made for my daughter and I have never washed it because I'm afraid of bleeding (its a jelly roll quilt with a literal rainbow of colors/batiks) would the synthropal be okay for a quilt that's already been put together, with a lot of colors?

[@tjackson42257]

+Krista Williams I have the same question...anxious to hear if anyone has the answer!

[@ManSewingVids]

+Krista Williams We haven't tried it with an entire quilt before but it's always good to test the fabrics to see if they will indeed bleed. If you're careful and patient, you can test them individually and determine if it's necessary to use the product. Many fabrics are great quality and won't bleed, especially if they're designer brands and not purchased at places like JoAnnes or Walmart.

[@tjackson42257]

If the fabric was all pre washed before construction, can it still bleed once it is finished? Should the fabric still be tested?

[@fjordan3402]

😂”some fantastic kitchen tools!!”😂😂😂

[@WhateverHunterLiz]

Do you wash your jelly rolls and your fat quarters? If so how would you do that without the jelly rolls getting all tangled up?

[@ManSewingVids]

+Liz Turney we don't recommend pre-washing pre-cuts, it's easy to lose them in the wash and they also have a tendency to fray on the edges.

[@ecopotterscience]

+Man Sewing I was just talking with some ladies and we were wondering if it would be ok the put the pre cuts in a mesh bag first?

[@elizabethrussell2940]

ecopotterscience I pre-wash all fabric including pre-cuts. Jelly rolls and charms I will wash by hand in the sink and then spin dry in a salad spinner. Then will lay them out on cooling racks to dry completely.

[@lindababers1091]

ecopotterscience cb

[@acmebrainsurgery]

Hahahahaaa!😂 I didn't notice the name of your channel before I saw the vid. "Man Sewing", that's a 'stich'! (Pun intended ;-) Anyway, great vid, I'm going to buy some Synthrapol right now.

[@laisa1956]

140 degrees ... that would be Fahrenheit, right? About 60 degrees Celsius for the rest of the world :-)

[@ManSewingVids]

+Rachel C right! Thanks for clearing that up!

[@markbuckeye]

Do you really need to ask? 140C is significantly above boiling for water so you can't really get it that hot (unless it is under pressure).

[@laisa1956]

@@markbuckeye Just drawing attention to the fact that there is an international audience :-)

[@kittyriggin385]

Very helpful - thank you so much!!!!!

[@nanab573]

Good to know information.

[@ManSewingVids]

+ArLanda Bryant Thank you so much!!

[@sandraengstrand2784]

❤️

[@redmondt1841]

awesome video :]

[@tamarathorsen]

Can this be done spot cleaning using synthrapol? I have a piece with flocking that probably shouldn’t go in water again