Cindy Hodge Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 I just finished a quilt, took it off the table, turned it over to check out the back and...there are a couple of small spots! It looks like it could be oil?! What do I do???? It doesn't smell like oil and I don't know how oil could've gotten on there, but it's definately something and it doesn't look good. It's a solid gray back. It's a customer's quilt. OMG, how do I fix it???Thanks for your help. I'll try not to panic while I wait for responses. Please someone know what to do!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witha'K'quilting Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 Most likely is oxidation form the rails when you removed the quilt. Not sure how to remove. Hopefully someone else will chime in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witha'K'quilting Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 I should say...to avoid this in the future...wipe down the rails before loading AND removing the quilt. Are the spots on the front of the quilt too? This is what makes me think that it is oxidation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy Hodge Posted February 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 I don't think it could be oxidation. It looks like oil spots. I'm sick about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witha'K'quilting Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 Can you try taking some corn starch and letting it sit on the spots? It should soak them out it were oil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliagraves Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 If it's oil, put cornstarch on it and let it dry. Wipe the cornstarch off with an old tooth brush. The cornstarch will absorb the oil. Julia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy Hodge Posted February 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 will the corn starch leave a different spot on the quilt? how long should it take the corn starch to dry? how thick do I put the corn starch? Can you tell I'm a little frazzled? And scared? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witha'K'quilting Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 The corn starch should not leave any additional stains. I would place a little over the stain...and then lightly brush it off. You can test this on a piece of fabric that is NOT the quilt and see how the results work. if you can see where the oil is coming from...get a little on a test piece of fabric and experiment with the cornstarch. Hope this helps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 If the cornstarch doesn't do the trick just take a q-tip with a little Dawn dishwashing liquid on it. It will cut the stain. Then just blot it out. Not to worry it will come out! It might be grease from the gear box. Check inside the hook area to see if there is grease. Sometimes the little black plug in there comes off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iedquilts Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 Cindy, as mentioned previously, corn starch will take out oil stain. no , it won't leave any spot. Irene in BC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy Hodge Posted February 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 Thank you everyone for your quick responses. I put corn starch on, waited a little while then brushed it off with a toothbrush, as suggested. then I vacuumed the area. It looks alot better but it's still there, slightly. I'm going to try the dawn dish washing liquid next. I'm a bit nervous about getting it wet, but I'm a lot more nervous about having oil on my customer's quilt. I'll keep you posted...if I survive the stress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witha'K'quilting Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 Breathe...you and the quilt will be just fine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sspingler Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 I use shampoo......any brand. I dampen a cosmetic sponge or cotton then add just a drop of shampoo then dab the spot. Comes right out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy Hodge Posted February 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 after I use the dawn, do I just let it dry on it's own or blow dry it? dab it tonight and wait till tomorrow to see if it worked? If I blow dry it, do I dry it with heat on? wouldn't that set the stain? I'm probably over thinking this whole mess, but this is the first time I've ever had a problem. Of course, Ihaven't had my machine that long either. I imagine this won't be the last problem I have but...if it were my own quilt, I'd be sick about it but not like this. I am feeling better though. and I'll feel a lot better if the dawn does the trick. Obviously, I'm not the first one this has happened to. and you know...misery always loves company. thanks for being here everyone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corey Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 I bought this spray from Pam Clark's store, Sew Clean when I was at MQS last May, she uses this a lot when teaching, manufactured by BearThread Designs, their ph.no is(281) 462-0661, I am just a satisfied customer, not a paid endorser. I love making white background quilts myself and for some reason these stain spots just suddenly appear from nowhere, Sew Clean rescues me all the time. Corey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffq-lar Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 If the spot is oil, re-apply the cornstarch and let it sit--overnight is OK. Cornstarch will not stain and it will absorb literally ALL of the oil. Pile it on top of the spot--I use a Q-tip. Vacuuming off is a good idea--or pick up with a slightly damp washcloth. You will be amazed. It is always recommended to start with the least-invasive/most inert method when treating stains. Chemicals of any kind should be a last resort. Good luck and you will be smiling soon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bekah Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 Cindy hope you are breathing easier today. Yes, most of us have been there and done that before on just about any problem that comes up. Linda R. advice about starting with the least invasive inert method is great advice. Ask me how I know not to try the chemical things first. sending you a hug this morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawaii Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 Dawn works. I had grease spots on a favorite T-shirt that had been there for a while. My girlfriend recommended Dawn and sure enough spots are gone!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 Cindy when I do the dawn I use a q-tip rub then use a plain wet q-tip to wash it out. Then just let it dry naturally. I hope today finds the stain gone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheri Butler Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 There is a product from amway called Basic H. This stuff works on EVERYTHING, and I mean EVERYTHING. One MINUTE drop with a little water and scrub w/toothbrush will take it ALL OUT! I LOVE this stuff! Thanks to my MIL who got me hooked on Basic H!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy Hodge Posted February 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 Well, today is not as great as I thought it would be when I went to bed last night. I used Dawn on it after I used corn starch. When I got up this morning, you could still see the spots. so, I dabbed at it again with warm soapy Dawn water. Left it while I went to work. Came home...can still see the spots. I can't really tell if what I'm seeing is now because I got the area wet or if it's still the oil but...so after it dried again, I put more corn starch on it and that's been there now for a couple of hours. I'll go vacuum it off in a little while and hope for the best. I don't know what else to do. I don't know exactly what I'll tell my customer. Of course I'll have to give her a substantial discount. I hope she'll entrust me with another quilt in the future. Honestly though, now I'm gun shy and am afraid to put anything on the machine. Silly, I know. I'm so dissappointed in myself and this situation. I hope this is the last time anything bad ever happens! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltmonkey Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 Cindy, bless your heart! Something tells me that this spot will come out. Try not to worry too much. Have you tried using "shout" or another stain remover? Don't rub too much. If you can let it set it in the solution for a while and then rub lightly with a cloth and then rinse in water. It will come out. Think positive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinneaMarie Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 Your customer might not even notice it. Shana has the right answer; think positive!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted February 17, 2010 Report Share Posted February 17, 2010 Shana is right. Don't beat yourself up so badly. How big of a spot is it? Has it gotten better or is it the same size. Are you absolutely sure the stain wasn't there before you started? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy Hodge Posted February 17, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2010 Ok..I'm feeling better now. The stain is very faint at this point but I still know it's there. If I move the quilt to orient it differently and then try to find the spot again, I may be hard pressed to find it easily. I don't know if my customer will even notice it, but I'm torn with should I or shouldn't I tell her? What would you do? What if I don't tell her and then she sees it while she's sewing the binding? themnwhat, do I pretend I didn't know it was there? Ugh. And, if I do tell her, what will she say/think? My family thinks it's not noticeable. I'm probably making more of it than I need to but I feel awful about it. This is my first mishap...and hopeully my last! Fortunatley, it's a lot better than it was last night. I really appreciate all the moral support I've received from you guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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