Storage of quilts
 

Is it ok to store quilts in those "space bags" that removes all the air out of the bag and shrink everything down?
I have been told that you should throw in one of those dryer sheet to keep things smelling sweet, is that ok or could it do more damage than good?

I'm not sure the answer to your questions ( someone on this board will). I just wanted to say how lucky you were to have enough quilts to worry about storage. ;)

i have some to put away now that its pretty hot these days... I bought some space bags and was going to do the same thing.. Downy fab sheet to keep the pretty clean smell.. Ill be watching this tread.. But i cannot imagine it would do much harm as its only going to be sucky-bagged for a few months anyhow.. It more to keep them smelling pretty and keeping the dust off of them..

I'd be afraid a fabric softener sheet would cause a stain, over time. Seems like it'd be safer to just throw the quilt into the dryer with the sheet, on low, for a few minutes, prior to using.

Most fabric experts will tell you not to store in plastic or vinyl. Fabric needs to breathe. I store mine in pillowcases.

The softener sheets do contain a bit of oil ... so I would not want it to be on contact for too long with fabric. Pillow cases work well for storage and allows to quilt to breathe.
Just remember to refold your quilts as they can develop permanent creases on the fold line.

The problem is not the I have alot of quilts. The problem is that I l live in a single wide mobile home. I have very little space. so when the quilts are not being used on the beds I have a storage problem. If I had room I would store them in pillow cases but even that is too bulky. Right now I am decluttering like crazy but it is going to take time as I and my DB were getting close to being hoarders. I have been working on my DB for a few years and now it is "his" idea to decutter., lol. Thanks to all those wonderful tv shows that mentioned hoarding and decluttering. I got him to watch as he was interested in the do it yourself handyman stuff.

I would not put a dryer sheet in a space bag. The oils in it will absorb into the quilts and discolor the fabric. Being air tight I wouldn't think you would need anything in it to keep 'freshness'.
peace

I imagine this rule would go for quilts, also. When we had our daughters wedding gown perserved they stored it in a blanket like fabric.....not plastic.....it has to "breathe".

The last $50 worth of space bags that I bought held the air out for maybe 10 minutes. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr

When I lived in a moble home I stored my quilts in between the box and mattress. I hope this gives you an ideal.

I agree with neesie about the possibility of the fabric softener sheet staining. I've had fabric softener stain when it's been poured on clothes directly and the fabric sheets have an oily feel about them.

All fabrics need air circulation to stay healthy. Space Bags were derived from those Seal-a-Meal appliances used to prevent freezer burn. There has to be a better, safer way to store the quilts even in your cramped space.

Many months ago I saw a post that I thought solved your storage problem beautifully. This poster said she stored quilts that were not currently in use between mattress and box springs on her beds. That way there were no creases from folding and out of the way until they're needed. I don't have enough quilts to need to use her tip, but I thought it was a super suggestion.

You can store them on top of a spare bed too.

But personally, if you are only storing them for a few months until you will use them again...I would do it. If it keeps them handy and you are not doing it for years at a time...why not?

Why do they have to breath? What happens to a suffocated quit anyway?

I used the space bags to store quilts and haven't had any problems. I just change them out with the seasons. I would NOT used the fabric softener sheet as it will stain. I don't use any kind of fabric softener when I wash my quilts because of allergies and I put them away clean and when the bags are opened, they still smell "clean"! I use All "Free and Clear" detergent because of my allergies. I may add baking soda or vinegar to the wash.

It depends on the intended life of the quilts. Will they be gotten out and used regularly or stored for long periods of time. If they are really special and you want to hand them down a generation or more then fabric storage like pillow cases are the way to maintain the integrity of the fabric. Any thing else will cause the fabric to break down sooner.