Quilt Care

Whether you are caring for a family heirloom, an art quilt, or a quilt you made yourself, a little attention goes a long way toward keeping it in good condition. Quilts of all kinds — antique, modern, and everything in between — can be affected by light, humidity, pests, and improper storage. This page covers practical guidance for displaying, cleaning, and storing quilts so they last as long as possible.

Displaying Your Quilt

A hanging sleeve is the best way to display a quilt on the wall. A sleeve distributes the quilt's weight evenly across the full width rather than stressing individual points. See our separate guide, Making and Attaching a Quilt Sleeve, for step-by-step instructions.

  • We recommend avoiding nails, pins, or thumb tacks directly on the quilt.
  • For best viewing, hang the quilt so the middle is at eye level — roughly 5' to 5'6" from the floor.
  • Avoid hanging quilts in kitchens or near heating and air conditioning vents, where cooking fumes and air movement can cause damage over time.
  • Try to keep quilts out of direct sunlight and away from fluorescent lighting — both emit ultraviolet radiation that can fade colors and weaken fibers over time.
  • Dimming the lights in rooms where quilts are displayed helps — drawing shades, reducing wattage, and turning off lights when not in the room all make a difference.
  • Rotating displayed quilts every few months and allowing them to rest is a good practice — alternating between two quilts is ideal.
  • When handling quilts, clean hands help prevent dirt and oils from transferring to the fabric.

Cleaning Your Quilt

The guidance below is primarily aimed at antique, heirloom, and art quilts. Many modern bed quilts — especially those made from cotton with colorfast dyes — are intended to be laundered regularly and can be machine washed without concern. When in doubt, check whether the maker left any care instructions.

For old, fragile, or art quilts: when in doubt, don't clean it. Improper cleaning can permanently damage an heirloom quilt. Very old or valuable quilts are best seen by a professional textile conservator before any cleaning is attempted.

Airing

For a musty smell, lay the quilt flat on a clean sheet outdoors in a shaded spot. We recommend against draping quilts over a clothesline, as the weight can strain stitches. Keep the quilt out of direct sunlight and avoid beating or shaking it to remove dust.

Vacuuming

For surface dust and dirt on delicate or antique quilts, gentle vacuuming is usually the safest option. Lay the quilt flat, cover the vacuum nozzle with a piece of cheesecloth or sheer fabric, and use the lowest suction setting.

Wet Cleaning

For antique or heirloom cotton and linen quilts that genuinely need washing, wet cleaning (soaking without agitation) is generally safer than machine washing. Wool and silk quilts are best left to a professional conservator.

Test for colorfastness first. Before wetting the whole quilt, test each color separately. Apply a few drops of plain water to an inconspicuous area of each fabric and thread color, let it soak in for a minute, then blot firmly with a white cloth or piece of white blotter paper. If any color transfers to the cloth, that dye is not colorfast and the quilt should not be wet cleaned. Repeat the test using your cleaning solution if you plan to use soap.

Choosing a soap. Orvus Paste (also sold as Orvus Quilt Soap) is widely recommended by museum curators and quilt conservators — it has a neutral pH and contains no bleach, enzymes, optical whiteners, or fragrance. It is available at quilt shops and online. If unavailable, a plain unscented dish soap with no added moisturizers is a reasonable substitute. Avoid laundry detergent, which contains harsh additives.

For full step-by-step guidance, see the University of Nebraska–Lincoln / International Quilt Study Center publication: Care of Quilts — Cleaning (free PDF).

Storing Your Quilt

Environment

A stable environment is the single most important factor in long-term preservation. Avoid attics, basements, kitchens, laundry rooms, and unheated spaces — these areas have extreme or unpredictable fluctuations in temperature and humidity.

  • Ideal temperature: 62°F to 72°F
  • Ideal humidity: 45–55% relative humidity
  • Store in the areas of the home where the family lives — these tend to be the most stable.
  • Warm, moist air with poor circulation encourages mold and mildew, which stain fibers and cause permanent damage.

Folding and Flat Storage

  • The ideal method is to roll quilts around a tube — at least 4" in diameter — padded with batting and wrapped in acid-free tissue or washed cotton muslin. This avoids fold lines entirely. Rolled quilts can be stored horizontally on a shelf or rack.
  • If rolling is not practical, storing quilts flat is the next best option — a spare bed that is rarely used works well.
  • If folding is necessary, try to fold as few times as possible and pad each fold with acid-free tissue or washed unbleached muslin.
  • Refolding periodically (every 3–6 months) helps redistribute stress and reduce the chance of permanent crease lines.
  • Try to avoid stacking quilts — the weight of upper quilts can put pressure on those underneath.

Boxes and Containers

We recommend lining storage containers with acid-free tissue or washed unbleached cotton muslin before placing quilts inside. Ordinary cardboard, wood, and cedar can emit volatile acids over time that may yellow and weaken textiles.

  • Archival (acid-free) boxes — a good choice. Available from museum suppliers and some dry cleaners.
  • Cedar chests — primarily useful because they seal tightly against pests. Cedar itself offers little repellent value and can affect textiles in direct contact, so lining with muslin or acid-free tissue is a good idea.
  • Plastic containers — can work if made of new (not recycled) HDPE (No. 2) or Polypropylene (No. 5), lined with archival tissue or muslin. Look for clear or milky white translucent containers and check the recycling symbol on the bottom. Colored or recycled plastic is best avoided.
  • Plastic bags — generally not recommended, as they can trap moisture and prevent air circulation.
  • Avoid using tape or metal fasteners anywhere in quilt storage — both can cause damage to fabric over time.
  • Always handle quilts with clean, dry hands so that dirt and oils from your fingers do not transfer to the fabric.

Pests

Two insects to watch out for are webbing clothes moths and carpet beetles — both are drawn to natural fibers, particularly wool, silk, hair, and feathers. For photos and identification help, see the NC State Extension guide to clothes moths and carpet beetles.

  • Keep storage areas clean — vacuum regularly.
  • Ensure quilts are clean before placing in storage.
  • Inspect storage areas regularly for early signs of pest activity.
  • If a cedar chest is not available, cedar balls or blocks placed in the storage area can help deter pests. They lose potency over time but can be refreshed by lightly sanding the surface.
  • Mothballs are not recommended — the active ingredient is harmful to humans.

Archival Supplies

Archival-quality boxes and tissue are available from museum suppliers and some local dry cleaners. Here are two well-known sources:

Related Handouts Making and Attaching a Quilt Sleeve  ·  Make a Quilt Label

Further Reading