What's the best way to clean an antique quilt?

[supernova]

I love my cats, but sheee-it!!

One of them gave their own personal perfume to my family quilt. :P :cry:

THe face is the original work, mostly from sackcloth patches from the 20s and 30s]
The batting and the backing are modern.

What would you do if you were me?

Dry clean it?

Wash it out in the tub with a little Nature's Miracle and Biz?

[Bennyboy]

1. What's the best way to clean an antique quilter?

Mock thread in 3,2,.....

[supernova]

4. I'm sure she bathes

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. My dear supernova...

Ouch, that's too bad...

I guess I'd take it to a dry cleaner that I trust.

I have an old quilt too that dates from the 20's or 30's...

And I was wondering how it should be cleaned as well.

Good luck, sweetie!

:hi:

[supernova]

3. Thanks Peggy!

:hi:

I will probably take it to the cleaners. I hope they can get out the smell. Phew!

[Gormy Cuss]

5. Don't take it to dry cleaner -- they may not know how to handle it.

The batting is probably too fragile to go through the commercial equipment that they have --it could disintegrate and turn the whole quilt into a lumpy mess.

Call a local quilt guild in your area and ask for their advice.

Also see here for a description of how to wash it at home:
http://hartcottagequilts.com/quiltcare.htm

eta this link:
http://tipnut.com/vintage-quilts/

I realize that you need to deal with the "present" not just dirt but gentle scrubbing of the spot may do the trick for all but the odor. If it's a urine odor, Stink-Free or Nature's Miracle may do the trick but I'd ask a seasoned quilter before doing that.

[Petrushka]

15. Don't take it to the cleaners. Dry cleaners are anything but "dry"! Check out these links --->

http://www.quilthistory.com/cleaning.htm

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=how+to+clean+an+antique+quilt&aq=f&aqi=g1&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=CO0xZQ3pOTKefNYGwNO_s7YsEAAAAqgQFT9CpijI

[marzipanni]

6. Dry cleaning- not good!

I'd follow these instructions, but first soak stinky area in a shallow bowl of Nature's Miracle after testing dye for colorfastness.

http://laundry.about.com/od/laundrybasics/a/careantiquilts.htm

[supernova]

8. Thank you!

I will try this.

[supernova]

9. Dupe

[MrsMatt]

7. I've washed antique quilts

in my washing machine on the most delicate setting, in cold water. Use a very mild soap rather than detergent.


http://www.quilthistory.com/cleaning.htm

http://www.getridofthings.com/get-rid-of-cat-urine.htm

good luck

[supernova]

10. Thank you for those

I don't know much at all about caring for old fabrics so every little bit helps.

[WolverineDG]

11. and air dry

don't use the dryer. if you have a front-loading washer, much better since those don't have an agitator. :)

dg

[MrsMatt]

12. correct - and lay the quilts flat (on the the lawn on top of old sheets)

antique linens are rather delicate, and line drying can cause strain on the fabric.

[lazarus]

13. another alternative

is to call a local museum. They may have some advice.

On edit: Haele says to hand wash it with Nature's Miracle (check it on a colour block first). NM can be gotten at a pet store. It's used to remove pet spray. Use flake soap, something weaker than borax. The earlier suggestion to flat dry it out on the lawn is correct.

[MrsBrady]

14. my grandmother always said

to use Woolite and "soak" it in the washer, but NEVER let it agitate...ever...or spin too much.

She said the agitation can take the stitches out and tear the fabric.

The older a quilt the more fragile it would be.

I'd try soaking it without soap...and use baking soda in the water to get out the bad smell.

I'd do what someone else suggested...call a preservationist, museum or textile person and see what they think.

It might be better to find a way to wash it flat. There also might be someplace that specialized in restoring old quilts.

[csziggy]

16. For the soap, use Orvus - you can find it at quilt shops

Or at places that sell horse tack. The problem with the horse places is that it will be in the large economy size.

Orvus is what is recommended for antique needlework. It is a liquid soap with surficants to keep the dirt from settling back on the fabric. You only need a very small amount - I dissolve a tablespoon in a five gallon bucket to wash a horse. Dissolve it in water before putting the quilt in.

If at all possible, though you may not want to wash the quilt. At least check the fabrics to make sure the colors will not run. At a talk at our needlework group, the state museum textile conservator recommended not washing old textiles. To remove odors, they simply air out the items. For cat spray, though, that could take a long time. I'd use the Nature's Miracle, then air the quilt - if that got the smell out, I would leave it at that. Or try an ozone generator - that was another suggestion of the conservator for removing smells.

Air or dry the quilt out of direct sunlight. If you can make some sort of frame to support the quilt but that will allow air flow around it, that would be better than laying it out on the lawn in the sun. For one thing, if the cat odor is not completely out, it may attract more marking felines! For another, if the batting does not dry completely in one day, you will be faced with stressing the quilt by having to pick it up and put it back out another day. Even though the backing is modern, you do not want to damage the face.

Quilting frames are made from PVC pipe - you could make a temporary one for pretty cheap at home, tall and wide enough to hang the quilt over and allow air to circulate. Or use chairs, if the damp will not damage the finish. Then put a fan to blow through the "tunnel" that makes - that will speed drying.