Washing Your Quilt
To wash a quilt, use cold water and a mild detergent (that is free of perfumes, brighteners, and bleach). Run the machine on a short gentle cycle. To keep the colors bright, add half a cup of vinegar to the wash cycle. Or you can also have the quilt dry-cleaned. If you are concerned about the colours bleeding, you can purchase color catchers in your grocery store. For small quilts use one sheet in the washing machine when you wash your quilts; for large quilts use two sheets. These sheets help prevent the colours to transfer to other parts of your quilt; catching the colour in the sheet instead of your quilt.
Drying Your Quilt
Quilts are heavy when wet. Try to support its wet weight so that the threads don’t pop. It is OK to partially dry a quilt in a dryer, but it is best to lay a quilt flat on a rack to dry. Do not iron your quilt.
How Often?
Washing or dry cleaning a soiled quilt will extend its life; washing or dry cleaning a clean quilt will shorten its life. Quilts that are used every day normally only need washing once a year. But if you have pets or children, more frequent washing may be desirable. Airing quilts (on a drying rack or clothesline outside) between washings is a good practice if you can leave your quilt unattended for a couple of hours outside. Otherwise, air-dry it in your home.
Quilt Markings
On a new quilt, you may note white or blue lines running through the quilting. These quilt markings are part of the process quilters use here to make sure the quilting is properly applied to the quilt. If a line is white or blue, it is probably chalk and can be brushed off or easily removed with a damp cloth. Also the first time your quilt is washed or dry cleaned the chalk marks will disappear. Quilting marking is part of the craft of quilts.
Storing Your Quilt
When not in use your quilt should be stored in a dry, dark location in a cotton or muslin bag — never store your quilt in a plastic bag or cardboard box. The muslin bag, cotton pillowcase or sheet is good to store the quilt in. Be sure the quilt is clean before you store it away. Every other month or so it is a good idea to take the quilt out and refold it another way before putting it back in storage. Air the quilt out when you take your quilt out of storage. Lay it on the grass and let the sun penetrate it, or tumble it in a cool dryer for a short time.
Minor Repairs To Your Quilt
Before washing or dry cleaning your quilt it is wise to inspect your quilt for seams that have come loose and repair them prior to the washing or dry cleaning.