How to Care for Antique Quilts
Many families pass down heirloom quilts over multiple generations. In order to keep your quilt at its best for future generations, you need to take care with your quilt when display, storing or moving the textile. As antique quilts usually feature delicate embroidery and beadwork, simply storing your quilt in a moving box or plastic tub will put the quilt's integrity in jeopardy. Caring for your quilt requires a little extra attention to ensure your piece remains at its best.
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Things You'll Need
- Archival tube or acid-free box
- Acid-free paper
- Small hand-held vacuum
- Flexible plastic screen
Instructions
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Display your quilt in a room with adequate ventilation when displaying. When displaying, choose rooms that retain a moderate temperature and won't subject your quilt to sunlight as this will cause the quilt to fade over time. Consider occasionally rotating your displayed quilts.
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Keep household pets away from your antique quilts. Claws can easily cause a snag and stray pet hair can become trapped within the fibers and stitches of the quilt.
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Store your quilt in an archival tube or acid-free box. Avoid storing vintage quilts in cardboard boxes or plastic tubs with snap-tight lids.
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Remove your quilt from storage regularly and refold in order to avoid creases or wrinkles. Ensure that you fold the quilt differently than you originally folded it so you don't enforce old folds.
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Place acid-free paper between the folds of the quilt when it is in storage. Alternately, according to Kris Dreissen of Hickory Hills Antique Quilts, if storing your quilt for longer than six months, you should sandwich the piece between two white cotton sheets and fold it "accordian" style. In "Quilt Care," on QuiltHistory.com, Dreissen advises supporting the folds with acid-free tissue and packing it loosely--allowing room for air circulation--into a large acid-free box.
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Clean your quilt by lightly vacuuming the textile through a flexible plastic screen using a low-powered vacuum brush. Never vacuum the quilt directly or use a high-powered suction vacuum. High-powered vacuums may snag or pull delicate embroidery or beadwork on the surface of the quilt.
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Tips & Warnings
Consider documenting your quilt with a label sewn onto the back of the quilt describing the quilt's history and any other information regarding special care for the quilt.
Never machine wash or dry clean your quilt. Machine washing can destroy delicate threading and cause vintage fabrics within your quilt to fade.
