Care and Cleaning of Quilts

[dolphin]

From Oxmoorhouse.com

http://www.oxmoorhouse.com/companion....asp?flag=care


Care and Cleaning of Quilts
A quilt's greatest enemies are light and dirt. To keep your quilt in prime condition would mean never using it. But then you'd never get to see it, enjoy it, or share it. You can enjoy your quilt and still have it last a lifetime if you treat it with care.

Always shield your quilts from direct light and heat, dust, damp, cigarette smoke, and aerosol sprays. The following suggestions for display, storage, and cleaning are suitable for most quilts. A museum-quality heirloom or fragile antique may have special needs; if you have such a quilt, get expert advice on its care.

WASHING
Wash your quilts only when absolutely necessary. Often, a good airing is all that's needed to freshen a quilt. Vacuuming with a hose removes dust. Dry cleaning is not recommended for quilts because it leaves harmful chemicals in the fabric.

When you must wash a quilt, use a mild soap such as Ensure or Orvis Paste. These soaps are available at quilt shops and from mail-order catalogs.

If you know that a quilt's fabrics were prewashed and tested for color fastness, you can wash the quilt as described below. If you're not sure, soak a corner of the quilt in lukewarm water to be sure dyes do not bleed.

A Good Soak. If fabrics are prewashed, you can wash your quilt in the washing machine if the machine is large enough to accommodate the quilt. Use cold or lukewarm water and let the machine run through its normal cycles. Never use bleach.

If your quilt is too large for the machine, wash it in the bathtub, letting it soak in warm, soapy water for about 15 minutes. Rinse repeatedly to remove the soap. Squeeze as much water out of the quilt as possible, but don't wring or twist it.

Drying. Carefully, lift the quilt out of the washer or tub, supporting the weight of the quilt in your arms so that no part of the quilt is pulled or stressed by the weight of the water. Lay the quilt flat between two layers of towels, and roll it up to remove as much moisture as possible.

Let the quilt dry flat on the floor. If you want to dry it outside, pick a shady spot on a dry day, and place the quilt between sheets to protect it. When the quilt is almost dry, and if it isn't too large, you can put it in the dryer on a cool setting to smooth out wrinkles and fluff it up.

Putting a wet quilt in a clothes dryer is not recommended, because heat and agitation can damage fabric and batting.

All fabrics fade over time. Some fade faster and more drastically than others, and there's no sure way to identify those fabrics beforehand. However, here is a simple test that is worthwhile if you have time before making a quilt.

FADING
Cut a 4" square of each fabric. Tape the squares to a sunny window-pane. After 12 days, compare the squares to the remaining yardage. If the squares are faded to the same degree, you can assume the finished quilt will keep a uniform appearance as it ages. If one fabric fades more than the others, however, you might want to select another for your quilt.

A BREATH OF AIR
By changing the quilt on your bed regularly, you can reduce the damage that exposure will cause to any one quilt. Rotate quilts with the change of each season, for their own good as well as for a fresh look.

All quilts collect dust. Before you put a quilt away for the season, shake it and air it outdoors. A breezy, overcast day is best if the humidity is low. Lay towels on the grass or over a railing; then spread the quilt over the towels. Keep the quilt away from direct sunlight.

STORAGE
Store quilts in a cool, dry place. Winter cold and summer heat make most attics, basements, and garages inappropriate storage areas.

If you keep a quilt on a rack or in a chest, put several layers of muslin or acid-free paper between the quilt and the wood. A quilt should not be in contact with wood for a long time, as the natural acids in wood will eventually stain the cloth.

To store your quilt, wrap it in a cotton sheet, pillowcase, or acid-free tissue paper. Boxes made of acid-free material are also available. These materials let air circulate but still protect the quilt from dust and damp. Place crumpled acid-free tissue paper inside each fold to prevent stains and creases from developing along fold lines.

Do not store quilts in plastic, which traps moisture and encourages mildew.

Each time you put a quilt away, fold it differently to prevent damage where fabric fibers become cracked and weak. If possible, avoid folds altogether by rolling the quilt around a tube covered with a cotton sheet.

[dolphin]

Do not store quilts in plastic, which traps moisture and encourages mildew.

So now I'm think that quilt I have stored in a "space bag" is probably not a good idea.

[homesteadmamma]

I agree, it probably was not a good thing. It's interesting because whenever you look at decorating books, old quilts are in cupboards on shelves, kwim. I would not store a quilt in a plastic bag as quilts need to have air.

The part about folding is another very important note. It's like material that is stored for a long period of time in the same fold. It leaves a crease.

[Valerie in WA]

By changing the quilt on your bed regularly, you can reduce the damage that exposure will cause to any one quilt. Rotate quilts with the change of each season, for their own good as well as for a fresh look.

Guess I'd better go make more quilts for the family!