CJ~ I need your help pretty please

**Katybird** · 07-06-2003, 03:07 AM

I know you will be able to help me. I went and got my quilts from my Dad's house. They are all wonderful but they are all VERY old and they are quilted with real honest to goodness cotton batting. The problem is that the material is so old that is not holding up to washing. I put one in the machine on delicate and the backing and binding started to disenegrate in places and the cotton came out all in the washing machine

I did not dare try another one until I talked to you and found out what you think is going to be the best way to clean them. I am putting the one from tonight on the clothes line in the morning and I will then see what I can do about repairing it. I have to clean them in someway, they have 14 years of dust and dirt in them and some were left on a bed that got wet from a broken window and the top looks good but it has some mold stains on the bottom of it. They are spectaular quilts and I want to be able to use them but I am at a loss as to what to do with them. I will do anything you tell me about cleaning them.

Thanks in advance for your help.

**homesteadmamma** · 07-06-2003, 10:02 AM

Well sweetie, I wouldn't wash them. I would hang them on the line outside on a nice hot sunny day. If the dust is exceptionally bad, I would spray it with my water hose while its on the line, spraying very gently. NEVER EVER USE YOUR WASHING MACHINE for old quilts. (The batting is totally different than what we use today.)

Here is an article on the cleaning of old quilts:

http://www.countryregister.com/articles/2.html

Here is another one:

http://www.quiltersreview.com/articl...g/010514_a.asp

Both suggest putting the quilt in a tub and doing it that way.

HTH