I just fielded a question from a member from my guild. He was asking if it was okay to dry clean quilts. I remembered what I had heard, but not the source.

I did a google check and this is what I found. I'm sure there are lots more websites, but these seem to cover the subject.

http://www.amishcountrylanes.com/Pages/QuiltCare.shtml

From http://museum.msu.edu/glqc/quiltcare.html "Dry cleaning is NOT RECOMMENDED because the dry cleaning method involves rough agitation of the quilt inside the dry cleaning machine and the dry cleaning solvents may harm some fabrics." This site also recommends never wet washing a quilt...so take this advice with caution.

http://www.quilt-maker.com/care.htm

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Can_you_dr...homemade_quilt

I recently took 3 antique quilts (80 plus yrs old), had them dry cleaned, and they came out perfectly...Naomi
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Thanks for doing the research on care of our quilts. I do hang my quilts in the sunshine occasionally. I also have used the gentle cycle on my washer & dryer. They came out beautifully.

What, your suppose to wash them? LOL! Thanks for the information, it will come in handy.

I regularly wash my quilts in a regular washer, with regular detergent, on regular cycle, extra rinse, damp dry. Have done so over twenty-five years. I regularly *use* my quilts. :D

Jan in VA

I wash in cold water and make sure I don't use detergent with bleach. Air drying is good when you can.

I worked at an IFI(International Fabric Institute certified) ) dry cleaners for 20 years,and not one complaint was ever made on the quilts we dry cleaned.One customer once insisted we wash her quilt and the colors ran and blamed it on our machines,she filed a claim and lost.But we did start having them sign a release form if they insisted on getting them washed., and that ended washing experiences with quilts.Never had another customer ask for washing quilts.

Ditto, but I do use the gentle cycle for washing and drying.

It's good to hear the "other side." Sometimes it's hard to know who is a expert and who isn't. I appreciate your post.