Oh how my heart went out to you in this entry. I have given quilts to my son and his family over the years, and one day when I was over at his house after a move (they are now divorced) there was one of my quilts in the packing quilts pile of rubble......
And then another time when I was accidentally over at "her" house, there were two quilts that I had personalized and made for their two kids in one of her trash piles. Needless to say, my son got a tongue lashing for his half of my discovery, and "she" will never see another quilt of mine at her address. Don't get on my s- - - list, huh?
Anyway, I don't know how I got off on this tear; but I commend you for wanting to clean these quilts up, and it sounds like you are doing the same thing I would do. It breaks my heart to see something like that happen.