Ann The Gran Community

This is not a Big & Rich song.

What does washing a quit or washing a horse have in common?  Orvus Paste.

At quilt shops and web sites, this product is sold by various names in pretty little containers for just slightly less than a king's ransom.

However, I did find a reasonable price at my local farm supply store.

Problem is ...........it comes in a 7.5 pound container (a little smaller than a gallon milk jug).  The product goes a long way and I do not belong to a guild or have any quilt buddies to share with.

And, I do not have a horse.......I do have a lot of grass............maybe I could save money by getting a horse to "mow" my grass (gas is really expensive) and quantify the need to purchase the "huge" container of Orvus Paste.

Eureka!  This weekend I found a small container at a local fabric store at 50% off and bought that. 

My neighbors have horses and I will just watch them eat and swish their tails..........this goes on all day long and I don't have THAT much grass.

Or..........maybe I could re-package that 7.5 pounds into small containers and sell them at the local art fair for quilt washing..........or, maybe at the county fair for washing the horses.  I might make enough to buy more fabric.


If nothing else, I hope I made you smile.

Pattiann

Pattiann,

Now, this was funny!  Read like something right off the desk of CBS 60 Minutes' commentator,  Andy Rooney.

Joan

Hi, i was wondering was what you said about washing quilts with orvus paste for real or was you joking?It sounds like you were joking about it so im not sure.Also what is realy the best way to wash a quilt,i just started quilting and i dont know,some people say do not put them in a washing machine.Can you help me with this?It would be great to know.Thank you dale

Orvus Paste is for real and is used for washing quilts.  The same product is sold as a farm supply for washing horses.

New quilts are tougher than you may think.

I wash my quilts in the washing machine.

Fill with cold/tepid water and a Tbsp of Orvus.

Submerge quilt.

Agitate a few minutes.  Let it soak about 15 more minutes, agitate a couple more minutes and then spin.

As the rinse water fills I add a bit of fabric softener, agitate a few minutes, soak, agitate a couple more minutes and then spin.

I also dry in the dryer on low heat until the quilt is almost dry, then spread it out flat to finish drying.

If you prewashed the fabrics used in making the quilt, there should be no shrinkage.

For older quilts, line the bathtub with a sheet, then the quilt.  Add cool water and Orvus.  Swish about by hand, soak, drain, rinse and then roll the sheet and quilt and press out as much water as you can.

Lift out of the tub buy holding onto the sheet so there is no stress to the quilt.

Lay flat to dry.