Methods to keep handmade heirlooms clean without ruining them.
If you’ve purchased a quilt from a commercial retailer, follow the washing instructions on the manufacturer’scare tag.
Always test it for colorfastness before washing it.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
If any of the panels in your quilt bleed, it can ruin your entire blanket.
Dry clean any quilts that are not colorfast.
Air-drying is the safest way to preserve your quilt.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Lay it flat or on a drying rack to fully dry it.
Cleaning at home will likely result in discoloration and fading.
If you havehard wateroriron bacteriain your water source, you should use distilled water for washing your quilt.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
You don’t want to risk having minerals stain your fabric.
Add aliquid detergentthat’s gentle and free of dyes and perfumes.
Avoid powdered detergent as it can leave residue on the fabric.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Gently move your quilt around in the water to help loosen any dirt.
Allow the quilt to soak in the water for about 10 minutes.
Rinse With Fresh Water
Drain the wash water, and fill the tub again with fresh water.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Repeat the rinsing process until the water and quilt are free of soap.
Placing a fan in the room will help to speed up the drying process.
You must handle them gently because pulling can break seams and cause damage.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Cover the quilt with another clean sheet, and allow it to dry.
Lay it flat or drape it over an indoor drying rack to finish drying.
Never suspend a wet quilt from aclothesline.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Hanging can cause too much stress on the seams and may cause tearing and clumping of the batting.
A wet quilt is very heavy and should be dried flat.
How Often to Wash a Quilt
Hand-washingis the preferred method for cleaning quilts and ensuring their longevity.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Even with a new quilt, machine-washing can cause the stitching to unravel.
For any quilt, less washing is best to prevent fading.
To freshen your quilts between washings, air them outside away from direct sunlight.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Rinse it by blotting the soap with a clean, damp white cloth, then air-dry or continue cleaning.
A dry iron is preferred over a steam iron since steam can dampen and damage the batting.
The cotton sheet will prevent the fabric from sticking to the base of the iron.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Allow an extra 24 to 48 hours of drying time before packing it away.
One of the best ways to store a quilt is to spread it out on an extra bed.
Keeping the quilt flat will eliminate creases and wear on folds.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Cover the quilt with a clean sheet or bedspread if you want to keep it protected.
Don’t keep the quilt in the attic or basement, where moisture and temperature levels may fluctuate.
Before you fold the quilt, pad the inside with acid-free tissue paper to help prevent sharp creases.
Oils and acids in the wood can cause spotting and damage.
Once a year, bring your quilt out of storage to air it out and check for damage.
Refolding differently will also prevent permanent creases and damage.
Don’t use mothballs when storing quilts; only use naturalmoth repellants, such as lavender or cedar balls.
Lay it flat or drape it on adrying rackto fully dry.
If it doesn’t have an instructions label, first test it for colorfastness before washing.
If there is, dry clean the quilt and do not wash it.
If there’s no color transfer, hand-wash in cold water.
But to avoid anyunexpected color bleeding, use a color catcher in the basin as you hand-wash it.
