How to Air Clean a Quilt

Quilts can look sturdy, but are usually quite delicate. Even work-a-day quilts should be treated with care, washed with delicate soap, and dried carefully by letting the water drain from the folded quilt while it's supported by a basket or hamper that has drainage holes, and then spread flat to dry in a warm place. The less a quilt is washed and dried, the longer it will last. One method of cleaning a quilt without subjecting it to the wear and tear of water, soap and the drying process is to air clean it.Air cleaning removes a surprising amount of dirt and dust, refreshes a quilt, eliminates odors and will cause little or no harm if done properly.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hand-held vacuum cleaner
• Outdoor area large enough for the quilt to lie flat
• Window screen

Air Cleaning a Quilt

1. Prepare the quilt by checking the seams and stitching for loose spots or possible problems. Delicate quilts, or quilts that have obvious flaws, like holes, should be handled very carefully or not at all. Never dry clean a quilt using chemical processes. If a quilt is an antique or has sentimental value, consider having it appraised and rehabilitated by a professional.

2. Eliminate light soiling by vacuuming.

3. Lay the quilt on a flat surface. Cover each spot with window screen and vacuum the area with a hand-held vacuum cleaner on its lowest power setting through the mesh of the screen. Use the brush attachment if you have one. Vacuum in sections, and use particular care near seams or threadbare spots.

4. Clean or freshen large areas or the entire quilt by putting it outdoors to let the breeze scrub it. This was your grandmother's method, and it still works.

5. Choose a day when there's a brisk breeze, no rain in sight, and the sun isn't shining. An overcast day is perfect. Instead of hanging the quilt on the line where the weight of the hanging fabric and batting may pop delicate seams, lay the quilt on a clean, dry area of the lawn. This will provide a springy surface that allows air to flow through the quilt and underneath, too. Leave it out of doors for at least an hour.

Tips & Warnings

• Try to avoid soiling precious quilts by keeping them out of harms way. Store them in a pillowcase or cotton sheet, with acid-free tissue paper in the folds to reduce creasing and deterioration.
• When cleaning quilts out of doors, watch for wildlife that may become interested in the bright colors, like birds, and could possibly soil the quilt.
• Check the window screen before use and cover any rough spots with painter's tape. Never use old window screening that may contain hidden dirt or have rust spots.
• It's easy to want to get right into the quilt with a vacuum, but the fabric may be much more delicate than you expect, and once it's torn or the seams unravel, the job of repairing the quilt becomes much more complicated, so take your time.