"Be careless in your dress if you must, but keep a tidy soul." --Mark Twain

Quilt Care Tips

With reasonable use and proper care Legacy Quilts can be expected to cover and enrich generations of loved ones.
 

The following tips on quilt care will help prolong the life of your quilt, helping to preserve its colors and fabrics.

General

1. Direct sunlight is the worst enemy of quilts, causing colors to fade and promoting fiber deterioration. Select a display location or use on a bed that does not receive direct sunlight. 

Cleaning

1. Washable quilts can be laundered in the delicate/slow cycle of your washing machine.  Use COLD water (never hot) and a reputable, mild soap.  (Quilt Wash or a similar product is recommended.)  Do not use bleach.  Hang dry out of direct sunlight.

2. If washing by hand, use cold or lukewarm water in a large basin or tub.  Rinse the quilt well to remove all soap.  To remove excess water, squeeze gently.  Never wring or twist, as this may break the quilting and sewing threads.  Squeeze the quilt and then roll it up between two thick towels to absorb excess water.  

3. Do not dry a wet quilt in an automatic dryer.  The best way to dry a quilt is to lay it flat on a clean sheet or towel, although you may also hang quilts to dry.  Again, avoid direct sunlight.

4. Do not dry-clean a soiled quilt.  Many quilts have been ruined by dry cleaning.  The best way to remove stains and oils is by spot treating with mild soap and then washing in water using a reputable, mild washing soap. Avoid harsh detergents.  Never use bleach. (Quilt Wash or a similar product is recommended.)

5. Surface dust accumulations can be removed from the quilt by tumbling for a few minutes in an automatic dryer on the air fluff cycle (no heat). 

Display/Storage

1. A fabric hanging sleeve can be sewn to the back of the quilt, enabling it to be hung for display.  Thread the quilt over a sturdy dowel, curtain rod, or lattice, and mount to a wall.  

Large quilts can also be folded and draped over a sturdy wall-mounted or floor display.  If using this method, be sure to place a piece of fabric, such as a pillowcase, between the quilt and any raw wooden surface to protect the fabric from the wood. 

Every six months, quilts should be hung upside down for a few days to relax the fibers.

2. When not in use, store the quilt in a dry, clean and dust-free location.  Moisture and contact with wood are harmful to quilts.  Place the quilt in an all-cotton pillowcase, made from cotton muslin or an old sheet.  Do not store the quilt in a plastic bag, as plastic does not allow the fabric to breathe properly.  Do not let the quilt contact the wood of shelves or drawers, or the quilt may become stained.

3. If the quilt is stored for a long period of time, check the quilt every few months to detect any early signs of damage from insects, wood or moisture.  Refold the quilt along different fold lines to prevent any folds from becoming permanent.

Important Note: Quilts are not for infant sleeping. NEVER put a quilt in a bassinet or crib with a child.