How should I care for my quilts, especially those that are older, containing very fragile textiles?

Antique quilts and heirloom textiles require special care to preserve them for future appreciation. Conserving textiles involves an understanding of climate (temperature and humidity), light, cleaning, vacuuming, storage and folding.

• View and download a newly updated NebGuide on Care and Conservation of Heirloom Textiles.
  
• View Guidelines for the Care of Textiles from the Textile Museum in Washington, D.C.
  

How should I store my family quilts and heirloom textiles?

Store your quilts and textile items flat if possible. Laying them out on a guest bed that is seldom used can be an ideal place, if the shades are kept drawn on the windows of the guest bedroom. Store items away from outside walls and areas where people smoke. Avoid attics, basements, kitchens, laundry rooms and unheated areas for textile storage. There are too many fluctuations in temperature and humidity in those areas.
If quilts must be folded, cushion the folds with acid-free tissue or muslin. Store them in acid-free boxes. If stored on closet shelves, be sure to line the shelves with washed cotton muslin to provide a barrier between the quilt and the plastic, wood or metal as contact with such surfaces may cause stains. Refold quilts periodically to redistribute the stress of folding.

How should I clean a family quilt?

First, you should know that there is always some risk associated with cleaning a quilt-whether cleaning is a simple vacuuming or a wet cleaning (a form of very gentle hand washing). Fabric loss, color loss, bleeding, shrinkage and distortion can result.
Therefore, often the best and only cleaning that can be recommended is vacuuming. If the quilt or textile item is not too fragile, vacuum it to remove loose dirt particles that can abrade and cut fibers. Vacuum at low suction (open vent slots). It may be helpful to place a sheer polyester fabric or a nylon stocking over the vacuum cleaner nozzle to prevent the vacuum from sucking the textile item into the nozzle and potentially damaging it. Alternatively, place a piece of fiberglass screening over the textile as an added precaution during vacuuming to protect it from suction and abrasion.
Wet cleaning (a form of gentle hand washing using distilled water, a mild detergent and very little agitation) removes the acid build-up from cotton and linen textiles and leaves them cleaner and more flexible. However, because of the risks of color loss, bleeding and shrinkage, we recommend that you engage a textile conservator to perform a wet cleaning. A wet quilt becomes very heavy and tears can easily occur from lifting the quilt in and out of the water, despite efforts to be gentle. In addition, it takes a lot of distilled or deionized water to thoroughly rinse a quilt. Distilled or deionized water should be used to avoid spots forming from iron or other minerals in the water. We strongly suggest that you never try wet clean a wool or silk crazy quilt at home.
You may locate a textile conservator by visiting the website of the American Institute for Conservation and clicking on the link to "Guide to Conservation Services."

Is there a special way to fold a quilt for storage?

The majority of quilts at the International Quilt Study Center & Museum are folded using acid-free tissue between the layers and then placed in archival boxes. The following is a recommended step by step process:

1. Lay the quilt on a clean surface.
2. Place sheets of acid-free tissue paper across the surface of the quilt, completely covering it. Fold the tissue within the quilt, so that no fabric surface is touching another.
3. Make the first fold of the quilt from the right, avoiding previous fold lines and sizing the fold to approximately the width of the box or pillow case in which the quilt will be stored.
4. Fold a second time from the right, carefully checking to be certain the first fold is lying flat.
5. Fold the remaining width of the quilt from the left across the first two folds, or, if needed, make a third fold from the left and then fold over the first two folds. When complete, you should have a long narrow piece, approximately the width of the storage box.
6. Place crumpled acid-free tissue rolls on the quilt, again considering previous fold lines. The tissue rolls should correspond to the width of the storage box or pillow case.
7. One person should then hold the tissue in place while a second person carefully lifts the folded quilt over itself from the right and then repeats the step from the left.
8. The quilt is then placed in an acid-free box that is lined with acid-free tissue paper.

Textiles should be removed from storage periodically and refolded. Care should be taken to refold the quilt, changing the position of the folds so that the same yarns are not subjected to the tension of folding, which can cause fiber breakage over a long period of time.

What can be done to conserve old textiles that are deteriorating?

Of course, professional conservation is an option. However, it is an expensive option, and the treatment will preserve the quilt in its current condition. If the damage is not too widespread, restoration to part of the quilt might be an option. However, unless a restorer can find vintage fabrics there is a risk that new fabrics will be obvious among the old.