Very OLD quilts
 

My husband recently found 6 very old quilts (made by an unknown family member many years ago) in a house that has been empty since 1994. These quilts are in amazing good conditions considering the state of the rest of the house. Some just need minor repairs and others have some large places the mice found them.
Here are my questions:
1) Can I wash them? (They are terribly dirty)
2) If I repair them what good are they?

What are the fabrics used? If it is cotton yes I would wash them on gentle and use a quilt soap available at a quilt shop. I would also use a couple of color catchers. It would be taking a risk as the batting material us unknown. However, would you use them as they are? Even to recycle into bags? And how to use them...............a wall hanging, pillows, bags............depending on the pattern.............calla

A certified quilt appraiser would be the best source for info on your questions, especially the second one. Of course you could repair them to be functional again (used as quilts) but no telling what effect that would have on their value as antiques.

Wish you had posted photos of the quilts. Yes they can be washed. There was a post about washing antique quilts on this site in the bath tub. Be very careful of using only a gentle detergent such as one that is made for antique linens.

I live in Central Nebraska, where would I find a certified quilt appraiser? I will try to lay them out and take pictures.

Google it. There are many organizations who certify them. Here is what my search yielded

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourcei...t%20appraisers

Start looking up quilt shows in your area. Some of the larger ones have quilt appraisers who will look at them, for a fee. Maybe Grand Island, Hastings or Omaha which is not central, I know. Maybe contact the Nebraska State Quilt Guild, might not be the exact name. Also, University of Nebraska at Lincoln has that wonderful Quilt Museum. There is a lot of information there, if you ever have a chance to go, plus beautiful displays of quilts. It is a great place to visit whether you need information or just want to see some wonderful quilts. Good luck with your quilts. Hope you find some helpful information.