Originally Posted by shequilts

Welcome to the board. You'll have fun here.
Try "airing" your quilts outdoors on a windy day. If no clothesline, lay them on a white sheet in a shaded patch of grass. (Watch out for the birdies).
As for washing them..I have several antique quilts including one made by slaves. I've successfully washed all of them at one time or other. Rely on a good soap like Orvis, cool water and fresh air. I wash mine in a bathtub if they are delicate, gently squeezing the water through them. Let the water drain, refill with clean water and repeat until all the soap is gone. Let the quilt remain in the tub to "drain". Move it about often to get more water out. Only when most of the water is mostly gone should you pick it up. This prevents the weight of the water from pulling/breaking the stitches or threads of the fabric. Older quilts were usually smaller and are many times thinner, so the water will drain rather quickly. If it's a large quilt (more modern) it may have to sit overnight in the tub. If there are rips and you don't want to repair them, baste a patch over the rip for the wash process and them remove it when you're finished. The patch will keep everything in place.
Good luck!
Karen