A quilt is not just another blanket or comforter, used to warm your toes on a chilly night. It is stitched with utmost care, putting in a lot of time, effort and a lot of love. Often quilts have memories attached to it, like a quilt given as a gift at someone’s birth or someone’s death. These heirlooms have to be taken care of in the best way, so that you can cherish these memories forever.

Storage and Transport

Once the quilt is complete, it is often stored carefully or gifted to another person. Transportation should always be in cardboard tubes, taking care that the actual cardboard doesn’t come into contact with the quilting fabric. This can be achieved by wrapping the quilt in muslin and then transferring it into the cardboard tube. This is also the best way to store it

For people who deal in quilts or who own several each tube should be labeled, with the quilter’s name and the date of completion. Professional quilters keep a file of the quilt’s details including a photograph of each quilt. Textiles are unable to breathe in plastic wraps. Therefore, un-dyed, unbleached muslin is the best wrapping material, as it prevents mildew stains. Make sure the fabric is clean before storage, as insects like to feed on food stains and spray starch.

Quilts should be aired every three to six months. At this time, it is a good idea to fold the quilt in a different way, before storing it again. Wrinkles can be minimized by rolling muslin or tissue between the folds.

Washing and Drying

Cleaning the quilt is another important aspect of preserving it. The best way to clean a quilt is by placing a screen on the quilt and then using a hand vacuum to remove the surface dust. Dry cleaning should be completely avoided because the chemicals are too harsh for the fabric.

In situations where wet cleaning becomes a must, remember to test for color fastness before hand. This is done by rubbing a white cloth over the different colored fabrics, to check for any bleeding of colors.

Quilting stores have a special detergent called Orvus which is especially gentle on quilts. Do not attempt to load the quilt into a washing machine which isn’t large enough to let the quilt circulate freely; in such cases hand washing is the better alternative. The quilt should be soaked for ten minutes, then agitated, then allowed to soak. This should be done until no soap residue remains. The dryer puts a strain on the stitching of the quilt, and therefore, though more tiresome, air drying or drying under a fan is a preferred solution to machine drying. Once it dries, it can be fluffed in a dryer, using no heat.

Baby quilts or lap quilts, which need to be washed regularly, should be stitched keeping that fact in mind. Fabric used should be machine washable and preferably fabric should be pre-washed before piecing to avoid shrinking in the future.

To increase the life of a quilt, it is essential to take all precautions to keep it away from dirt, heat, insects and direct light. Completing a quilt is a one time accomplishment, caring for it is a life time endeavor.