How to Wash a Handmade Quilt
Cleaning quilts can seem like a daunting, dangerous task. Especially when it comes to quilts that hold sentimental value to you or challenging patterns that took you a long time to make, the idea of keeping your quilts clean can keep you from using them as they’re meant to be used. But, the reality is, if you’re gentle and follow the best practices for washing quilts, then you don’t need to be afraid! Keep reading to learn how to wash a handmade quilt.
In general, quilts should only be washed when needed. It is normally suggested to wash them no more than 2-3 times per year. You can aways spot-clean it, but full washes can put strain on the stitches. When you do wash your quilts, before you wash make sure you:
- Gently vacuum it to remove any debris that might tear the fabric as it is washed.
- Inspect the quilt for any loose threads, holes, stretched seams, and other issues. If you need to repair a quilt, do it before you wash instead of after!
- Test any colored fabric on the quilt for dye bleeding.
- You can do this by wetting a small portion of the fabric, then rubbing the wet spot with a light-colored cloth that has the kind of detergent you will be using. If any color bleeds onto the cloth, hold off on a full wash until you can get a color catcher or an anti-bleed detergent.
Washing Handmade Quilts
In general, there are two ways to wash your quilts:
1. In the Washing Machine
Some hand-me-down quilts can be quite old and fragile, so you might be wondering if its okay to wash all quilts in the washing machine. It is all very dependent on what you know about the quilt. How fragile is the fabric? Has the quilt been color-locked?
Modern quilts made with the sturdy fabrics of today’s technology will usually be fine in the washing machine. All you have to do is set the water temperature to cold, choose a gentle fabric detergent, and wash the quilt on a delicates cycle. Again, be sure to color check your quilts before you wash them! You don’t want the colors to bleed into each other.
2. Hand Washed
Handwashing is the recommended method for vintage quilts, hand-me-downs, or quilts that have delicate fabrics and stitching. This is because you are able to control how delicately the quilt will be treated. The steps to handwashing a quilt are:
- Fill up your tub or sink with cold water
- Soak the quilt
- Add your dye and perfume-free detergent, or a color-stop detergent to prevent bleeding
- Agitate the quilt for about 10 minutes by shaking it around or gently scrubbing at a stain
- Drain
- Refill the tub with cold water
- Add 1/4-1/2 c of white vinegar (depending on the size of the quilt) to deodorize, brighten color, and eliminate detergent residue
- Repeat steps 5 and 6 until the water is no longer soapy or sudsy.
Drying Handmade Quilts
When it comes to drying your quilts, there are specific requirements that must be met in order to not damage the stitching.
Firstly, you can dry your quilts in a dryer. But it is recommended that you only dry it on the lowest heat setting until damp, and then take it out to airdry.
A total airdry is the most recommended way to dry handmade quilts, but this method can cause some difficulty if you do not have a lot of space to spare, or the weather is cold/overcast. This is because you cannot dry a quilt by hanging it from one end. Water is heavy, and as all of the excess water migrates down and pools in the lower part of the quilt, the risk of threads popping increases greatly.
Quilts should be airdried flat. Common ways to achieve this are to:
- Dry it on a flat rack
- Lay it indoors between layers of towels, gently wring out between towels, then change out when they become wet
- Lay it outdoor on a bed of towels and let the sun dry it
Airdrying prevents puckering, shrinkage, and crinkling, but it does take much longer than a dryer, and many more towels.
If you are afraid of damaging your quilt, then you can always take it to be professionally cleaned!
Get Your Quilting Supplies and Machines at Quilt Quarters in Greenwood, IN
No quilt to wash? No problem! Quilt Quarters has everything you need to get started on your first project or your next project, from fabric to notions to patterns and machines. Our expert staff will get you on the path to a new, handmade quilt. Just visit out online products or stop by and see us today!
If you’re looking for an expansive collection of fabric, notions, classes, and sewing clubs to spark creativity and let your imagination soar, Quilt Quarters – located at 9504 Haver Way, Indianapolis, IN 46240 has over 7,000 square feet and 25 years of experience as Indianapolis’s top choice for sewing and quilting needs. Our staff is always looking for opportunities to help, so feel free to reach out! You can fill out a contact form on our website, call us at (317) 757-8340, or visit us in-store from 9am-5pm during weekdays and 9am-4pm on Saturday. “Sew” you soon!
