LOVING CARE FOR YOUR QUILTS
Quilts old and new need loving care. Follow these tips to preserve your treasures.
STORING YOUR QUILT
To avoid fading and fiber damage, keep quilts out of strong light and sunlight. Keep as dirt and dust-free as possible, away from furnace vents or open windows. Keep away from family pets. Keep in a place where air can circulate around it. NEVER store in a plastic bag as this is a breeding ground for mold and mildew. A cedar chest is useful if the quilt never touches the wood (wrap it in a sheet or pillowcase, check periodically to see if cover shows signs of oil from wood)
On the Bed: Quilts are best stored flat on the bed. Several quilts can be stacked on top of one another because the weight is distributed evenly and air can circulate around them. They should be covered with a sheet to protect them from dust and light and rotated every few months.
Folded: To fold a quilt, place a cotton sheet on a clean floor. Lay the quilt face down. Roll up generous amount of acid-free paper* into “sausages” and lay into each crease as you fold. This helps prevent deterioration on crease lines. When the quilt is folded, wrap in acid-free paper and put into an acid free box. If that is not available, use a cotton pillowcase or cotton bag if you have one large enough. Do not over-stuff; quilts need air. If folded quilts are stacked one on top another on shelves don’t place more than three or four in a stack and cover the stack with washed muslin or sheet. Rotate the quilts position in the stack every few months. Refold once to twice a year.
Hung on a Wall: Cut a strip of unbleached muslin 10” high and the width of the quilt. Sew a ¼” hem on the two short sides. Place long ends right sides together and sew a ½” seam to make a casing approx. 4-1/2” by the width of your quilt. Turn right side out and press with seam centered along length of casing. Sew a ¼” seam on one long side, and pinch 3/8” fabric in center; then sew ¼ “ seam on the other long side, creating a space for the rod. Pin across quilt backing, even with the stitched edge of the binding. Match thread to quilt front and hand sew using a ½ “ herringbone stitch. Back stitch every fourth stitch, and come all the way through the quilt every 2 inches. Stitches will show on the right side, but the quilt weight will be distributed evenly. Hanging quilts need to rest after six months; remove and store with a different method
CLEANING YOUR QUILT
Don’t clean quilts more often than is absolutely necessary, Each cleaning stresses the quilt fabric and stitches. Most stains and age spots won’t come out with any type of cleaning. If you must clean, try these suggestions.
Airing: To rid quilts of musty smells, air outdoors for several hours. In shade, lay flat on top of several layers of sheets, and cover with an additional sheet.
Dry Cleaning: Not recommended due to harmful effects of harsh solvents and agitation.
Vacuuming: The least stressful way to clean a quilt. Follow directions. Exactly. Purchase a square yard of fiberglass screening. Sew cotton twill tape around the edges to prevent scratching. Lay quilt on a flat surface. Use a vacuum cleaner attachment over screen and carefully vacuum quilt front and back.
Wet Cleaning: Never use on wool or silk quilts or quilts with wool batts and only CAUTIOUSLY on cotton quilts. Test each different piece of fabric for colorfastness with a damp cotton swab. Blot with white paper towel. If any colors run, do not wash quilt. Fill washing machine with cold water. Add 1 Tbsp quilt soap. Stir to dissolve. Put in quilt, gently hand agitate and let sit for ½ to one hour, agitating several times. Let water drain from machine without spinning or agitation. Pour in 4-6 galleons of distilled water. Hand agitate for a few minutes. Gently press quilt against the side of washing machine. Drain and repeat several times. Set the machine for the last spin of the delicate cycle. Carefully remove the quilt and lay flat to dry with plastic sheeting underneath. If outside, place a sheet under the quilt and one over it. If you must, tumble in dryer (no heat) for a few minutes to fluff. Do not iron. This procedure is for top-loading washing machines. Use a similar process for the bath tube if you can’t control the machine’s agitation. Line the tube with a clean sheet and put quilt on top of it. Follow directions above for washing. Allow the quilt to drain for at least an hour before removing. Blot with clean towels several time to remove excess water. Lift the sheet, not the quilt, to remove and carefully lay flat to dry.
*Check the Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute website for sources of acid free tissue paper.
This information sheet prepared for the MINNESOTA QUILT HISTORY PROJECT. Revised 4/13