BB'S CREATIONS for the finest in friendly and fun fabric finds http://www.bbscreations.com article home       email       testimonials       who is bb?       articles

for the finest in friendly and fun fabric finds

The Care & Feeding of Quality Quilts

Treating Stains To wash your quilt, you will first want to treat any stains. This is best done with a mild detergent such as Ivory dish soap. Just take a small amount of the detergent, mix it with equal parts of water, let this sit for several minutes and then rub it gently into the stain. If all that you are doing is cleaning the stained spot, you will now want to dab this spot with a sponge or paper towel to remove any soap and moisture. Make sure to let the spot dry entirely before storing the quilt. But if you were pre-treating the stain, you can now wash the quilt. Laundering After pre-treating any stains, you can now launder the quilt in the washing machine. I would not suggest doing this with vintage quilts, but newer quilts will be fine. Be sure to use the gentle cycle on your machine along with a laundry soap for delicates. I always use cold water in which to wash my quilts. This keeps colors from running and the fabric from shrinking. If this is the first time that you are washing the quilt, I suggest adding 1/2 cup of white vinegar to the wash water. The vinegar will keep the dark colors from running, especially reds. Drying The ideal way to dry your quilt is to lay it flat, never hang it on a clothesline. Hanging it on a clothesline causes the weight of the wet quilt to pull out any hand-stitching. A favorite way to dry quilts is outside, on a nice day. Spread out a clean sheet and spread the wet quilt on top of the sheet. Make sure to lay it out away from trees, or overhangs, where something may be dropped on the clean quilt. If you have no such space available, lay your quilt (again on the sheet), on top of a car, deck, or porch. A picnic table is also an ideal location. Be sure to check for any spots before putting your quilt away. For some reason birds may think this is a target in which to leave their mark. If the day is rainy, or if you have no such place at all, you can dry your quilt in a dryer, using a low heat setting. Vintage Quilts For vintage quilts, it is best not to wash them at all, but if absolutely needed, you should test a small inconspicuous area first. If the test spot is fine, then you can carefully wash your vintage quilt in a bathtub, with cold water. Again, take the quilt outside to dry flat, making sure with a vintage quilt that it is out of direct sunlight. Displaying There are many different options to display your quilt as well as on your bed. Many people like to hang them on walls, but some preparation is needed to make the quilt hangable without causing stress to the quilt itself. Be sure that it is supported along the entire top edge. A hanging sleeve should be attached. Hanging by just a few tabs along the top is not sufficient support for the quilt. This will cause sagging of the quilt and put a strain on the stitches. There are also several types of commercial quilt hangers and stands that you can purchase, to display your quilts. As a precaution, do not let the quilt touch unfinished wood. Oil from the wood is absorbed by the fabric, creating permanent stains. Wood can be sealed with polyurethane to prevent this or use a piece of fabric or acid free tissue paper. (Although more expensive, consider choosing acid free linen paper, as many tissue papers you'll find are made of wood products.) One tip, do not hang your quilt near a kitchen where cooking greases and smells will be in the air. A bathroom, which is noted to be damp, is also not a good place. Display quilts out of any direct sunlight as this will cause fading. Storing The best way to store your quilts is not in a box, plastic bag, or a storage trunk. The best place to store your quilts is on a bed, in a guest bedroom. Just pile your quilts on the bed, preferably upside down, in layers, then top with another cover of some type, such as a sheet or bedspread. This will block the light from fading your quilt tops. But if you must store them away some where, a linen closet will work the best. Fold your quilt up and wrap it in acid free tissue paper. About twice a year you will need to take your quilt out and refold it, so the creases will be in a different area on the quilt, and place back in the closet. Another suggestion is to roll your quilts up, and place them in a cotton pillowcase. Again, twice a year, remove your quilt from storage, let it air for a few hours, then re roll and place it back in a fresh pillowcase. Please remember these tips are only guidelines and are not a 100% fool-proof guarantee. I hope these tips will keep your quilt beautiful for many years to come.

BB's Creations home page who is bb       email       returns       testimonials       privacy       guarantee craft links~1       crafts links~2       crafts links~3 health links       other links       links