We went up to my mother-in-laws Sunday and she gave me a quilt made in 1934. It is really neat and I love it, but it has been in her basement and is musty and a little soiled. What is the safest way to clean it?? Does anyone know??

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), May 15, 2002

Answers

Diane, that is wonderful. How I inherited a woven blanket from the civil war but unfortunately it had a lot of smoke damage to it. I went to every cleaners in the world and not one would tackle it. So..I wash it buy hand with woolite, letting it sit in the tub. I used some vinegar with it, not sure why but was told to. I then air dryed it and the smoke came out and I show off the blanket in the den next to my loom. I use the blanket as an incentive of someday being able to accomplish. Good Luck, Debbie in Ok.

-- debbie in ok (bwolcott@cwis.net), May 15, 2002.

I was given a quilt that was quilted by a woman in the late 1800. It was in great condition (no holes or tears) but the smell would knock you off your feet. No one would clean it for me so I decided I would was it in the washer!(It was way to heavy to wash by hand and it was in the dead of winter).On delicate and short wash-- It came out great. I even put it in the dryer--it shrank a little but it now smells and looks great. I would guess that my quilt had NEVER been washed!!! I would not have put it the house because the smell was so strong--so I didn't have mush to lose! I also washed a quilt that my grandmother did in the 1930's, in the washer (on delicate and I hung it on the line to dry. I repaired all the pulled out places and holes before I did it!

-- Debbie T in N.C. (rdtyner@mindspring.com), May 16, 2002.

use soapwort to wash all of your antique fabrics and lace. Boil soapwort and it gets soapy :)

-- westbrook (westbrook_farms@yahoo.com), May 16, 2002.