I have a very old quilt that has been in the family. It smells very musty ----any suggestions on how to clean it to remove the odor. Thanks The Bag Lady

depending on the condition its in.... you can run warm water in bathtub and there's a 'wool lite' soap you can buy-let that 'filter' in the water while its running, then lay the quilt in the tub and let it 'sit' in the water and push on the quilt once every 20 min. or so up to 2 to 3 hrs. Drain, run fresh warm water over the quilt, dip process again then let drain, push on quilt to get rid of excess water or squeeze to get rid of excess and drape over a clothes line out side or other means of drying if the quilt is 'up to it' (again all this depends on the age/condition of the quilt. I also have another way of "freshening' fabrics... not sure it will work with 'older, delicate items'. I put the meltaway candles (small circles of candles that you put in a melting pot) in what scent you prefer, in a baggie, leave the baggie open but lay it inside a drawer or wherever you store the item and close the drawer for a while, rotating the places you put the baggie from time to time. good luck, mildew odor isnt an easy thing to deminish in an old quilt and keep the quilt safe at the same time. You might want to also try some vinegar or fresh diluted lemon juice in your rinse water when tub bathing the quilt.
hope this helps!

Here's what the experts at UNL have to say: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/vi...extiles_facpub
I would certainly NOT spray it with anything, wash it, or hang it over a clothesline. Depending on age and condition, I would not put it in a dryer either.

I can't believe anyone would try to wash an old quilt in the bathtub. Even if you drain the wanter then try to squeeze out most of the water out of the quilt , it would weigh a ton. I wouldn't have enough towels in the house to try to blot the excess water out. Hanging on the line or laying out flat to dry would take so long.
I don't have a sensible suggestion for getting the odor out, but I have hung dry quilts on a line outdoors, especially in winter.

Thanks Loretta.

There are some worn spots on the quilt. Also, it looks like it was made from someones clothes. I will have to air it outside in the spring because we are having snow right now.
Bag Lady

I've washed them in the bathtub by placing them in a sturdy laundry basket first, then drying flat outside.

This is exactly how a gal at the Smithsonian Museum instructs how to wash quilts - in the bathtub! You should have a screen or something to lay it across because it will be very heavy. However, if the quilt is very old it is recommended NOT to wash it. Instead you vacuum it. First you vacuum the quilt, but not by putting the vacuum on it and running it over the quilt. Instead, you want to put a screen through a small embroidery hoop and use your vacuum hose nozel to gently vacuum the quilt through the screen.

If you have a lot of birds in your area you don't want to put it on a clothes line outside either, for obvious reasons. (Darn birds just love to sit on my quilts and deficate! :evil: ) Instead, lay a sheet out on the floor and spread your quilt out to dry on it. If you have a fan, put that near the quilt and turn it on. The airflow will help it dry faster.

Somewhere in my quilt room I have the instructions for this. Let me see if I can find them (without getting lost myself!) and I will post them. If nothing else, you'll get to see how the Smithsonian treats their quilts.

What you described sounds like what the University of Nebraska, International Quilt Study Center says in the link I posted above. Should be interesting to see any differences.

I would be leery of putting it in the dryer...even on low/no heat there is enough heat that could set small unseen/unnoticed stains :wink:

I have washed very old quilts in the bathtub, using very small amount of dish soap mixed well in the water first, then carefully submerge the quilt, and just pressing with my hands to "squeeze" the water through it. It works really well. Then I use a gallon pitcher to pour fresh water over it to rinse (after draining the tub). After no more "bubbles" are coming out, I press with my hands again to get as much water out as possible, and it takes a while to do this. Then I roll the quilt up and pick up the whole thing at once. Then lay it out on plastic covered with white sheet on the floor in my extra bedroom. It takes about 3 days to dry, and I turn on the ceiling fan on high to help that process. They come out clean and fresh smelling, and much more flexible after that. I have only done cotton ones, though. I would not attempt wool or silk.

Thanks for the UNL site!

My pleasure...my kid is a Husker! ;-)

I think one has to ask oneself, is it old.....and special?, or pretty? or heirloom quality? You only said it was an old family quilt. I have some old quiilts that are 1-ugly 2- threadbare 3-not much more than rags sewn together. One might take more time, effort and/or expense depending on these questions. Some take old quilts and cut them up to be pillows if they are shabby. You can put bridal veil net over the quilt which will keep it intact and not show. Maybe not for this quilt but keep that in mind for future use. Amway has a Liquid Organic Cleaner that is so gentle that you can brush your teeth with it and it cleans great. But some old quilts just disintegrate no matter what you do.
How did you get the quilt?

My DH cousin owns a car wash and detailing shop. He says to get smells out of cars the best way is to leave the windows down in the clod weather. The colder the better. Don't know why it works, just that it does. so lay it out in the cold.

The quilt has been in my in-laws family and was found when they wee cleaning out their effects etc. It is not the prettiest quilt ---the colors are all browns and reds etc. I am going to have to look at it again. I am sure it must have been made for warmth and not beauty. This poses another question. Are the older quilts signed or marked? I can't find anything on the quilt.

Most old quilts weren't dated or signed, but you can compare fabrics to get an idea of the dates. If a quilt has lots of 1960s prints, chances are, it was not made for a 1922 wedding.

Depending on how old it is, it could have been made by kerosene light. I was watching a program (probably Alex Anderson's Simply Quilts) and the lady was showing the most god-awful ugly quilt in browns & reds. The colors were absolutely atrocious! Then she turned out the lights and lit several kerosene lamps and the effect was amazing! This quilt went from hideous to stunningly gorgeous! I would have paid good money for this quilt! It had never occurred to me that the colors would change so much depending on our light source. It makes me wonder what light source was used to make the quilt you are talking about. Just something to think about.

My girlfriend had an old family quilt appraised. It wasn't anything special, but we were all shocked when the appraisal came back at almost $2000! :shock: You just never know. What is ugly or a utility quilt for us might end up being a special quilt that is valued much higher than we would expect.

Interesting information about the kerosene lamplight!

I agree about the unexpected value. It could be worth the time to get it appraised.

Where do you go to have old quilts appraised?

Thr Traveling Antiques Road Show comes through here once or twice a year---would they be the ones to go to. Now I am curious and don't know if I can wait that long for them to come back.

Any of these appraisers would serve you well. http://www.quiltappraisers.org/findAppraiser.html Also check out their home page and their 'fact' page for lots of good info on appraisals.

I've just acquired two old quilts from a neighbour so this is really useful information. Thx for everyone's input.

While you are waiting for Spring, put it in one of those tote bags made by the freezer bag company. I think it is Zip Loc. In with the quilt put a few sheets of softner that you would use in the dryer with your laundry. They say that the sheets will take odors out of sneakers overnight so it should work on the quilt. I doubt there is anything in the dryer sheet that could possibly harm the quilt but you might want to read the ingredients on the box first.

This is an excellent idea.

I have been told by a couple of people to wash the quilt in a buttermilk/water sol.------1 qt buttermilk to a washer tub of water. I am afraid to wash the quilt, but has anyone heard of this. The Bag Lady

This is an excellent idea.

I have been told by a couple of people to wash the quilt in a buttermilk/water sol.------1 qt buttermilk to a washer tub of water. I am afraid to wash the quilt, but has anyone heard of this. The Bag Lady

I'm very blessed in that I have 2 wonderful local quilt appraisers. They spent a fortune for all the classes, traveling across the country several times in order to become licensed. Once a year they have a special and charge $25 a quilt. It's amazing to watch them work and find out what can increase the value of a quilt (such as showing it at shows/fairs).