How should I wash a vintage wool quilt?

Answer by  janedoe (701)

Wool has a tendency to shrink and/or warp. You don't want to try washing it yourself. You should take to be professionally laundered. This doesn't have to mean dry cleaning (which uses environmentally harmful chemicals) but a professional will have tools to remove the stains and get your wool quilt clean without ruining it.

Answer by  Kauakea (77)

If yours is truly a vintage quilt (and by that I mean of an advanced age) you need to respect the fabric's fragility. I would first try washing by hand in cold water and drying flat. I would do this more than once. If the stains don't come out I'd consult with a GOOD dry cleaner.

Answer by  noey1958 (1405)

Do not wash the quilt in water! The wool will be shrunk and it will ruin it. You can try a package of dryclean that goes in the dryer but the best way is to take it to your local cleansers. You would not want to risk the shrinking of the wool.

Answer by  sue123 (375)

You need to find a very reputable Dry Cleaner to handle your heirloom quilt. It cannot be machine washed as that will definitely ruin the quilt. Good luck.

Answer by  champaign9497 (11977)

If it is a family heirloom then you should take it to the drycleaner and wait while they clean it there is no proper way to wash those without the proper equiptment.

Answer by  FreddieR (104)

Any places that need fixing should be taken care of before you clean your quilt. Use distilled water in your sink or tub. Add perfume-free, dye-free liquid detergent to the water, along with vinegar, which should brighten the color and help keep the fabric soft. Move the quilt gently through the water; let stand for 10 minutes.

Answer by  sydniethesydbeans (47)

shake out quilt to remove dirt.get a large container anf fill with cold water then place in the quilt.add a few capfuls of mild detergent, scrub the quilt with hands, pour out dirty water, refill container with water and rinse quilt, then ring out quilt, then dry in between towels

Answer by  drJ (841)

You should not try to clean it yourself. Modern detergents and machines can easily damage the wool. You'll have better luck taking it to a professional cleaner that has experience in antique fabrics and preservation techniques. They will analyze the material and help you determine the best strategy for cleaning it.

Answer by  Liz59 (10966)

Vintage wool quilt needs to be delicately handled. I recommend you use a gentle glycerin based soap which you can get from an organic store. Do not use any major abrasive detergents, because the texture may be altered with. I also recommend you use vinegar to clean out stains that are in the quilt.

Answer by  diva25 (4016)

I would take it to someone who has a lot of training in washing something like that. If you call various cleaning places someone will eventually be able to help you. I would not try to wash something like that myself as I do not know how careful I would have to be.