Thanks, guys for the help. I guess I'll just buy one and give it a try.

bkay

They are probably humidity stains. If so, it will not come out. BTW, you should never store them in plastic that doesn't breathe.

There is product just for this called SOAK. Ask your quiltshop to order some in for you.

sandy

There is also "Grandmother Stain Remover". Comes in a small yellow bottle with a pic of Grandmother. I found it in quilt shops and recently in the laundry section at Wal Mart.

Thanks for the thread bkay.

When we closed up my father's house, I found a quilt top my mother cross stitched for me in 70's. She never got it quilted and stored it in a closed plastic bag. I used Soak on the entire quilt and laid it in the sun after rinsing, but it did not get all of the stains out. There are some brownish stains remaining. I'm afraid to soak it too extensively (3 days as suggested above) because I'm afraid the cross stitching may fade or deteriorate.

Now that I have tried Soak, what else might you recommend? Do you spot soak or immerse the entire quilt?

Thanks so much.

j.

I have had good luck with zout. It is in the laundry section of my grocery store. I have found wonderful old embroidered linen items and got stains out with it. I pre-treat the stain, pour hot water through it, pre-treat again and let it sit for a day or so and then wash that spot only until I get the spot out, then wash it all in a mild soap in the machine.

My sister smoked all her adult life till her death at 85. I inherited some of her quilts and they were all stained with smoke. Alas, the stains never came out. I use them, but am disappointed at their look.

Thanks RedGarnet. I'll try that.