How to wash your quilt

You’ve made a gorgeous quilt and now it’s time to wash it! Whether it’s going out as a gift or it’s been sitting on your side chair for a while, this part is inevitable. 

The best way to take care of quilts is to wash them as infrequently as possible. Washers and dryers can be hard on handmade items. This isn’t like your sheets where you want to wash every week. 

Really just keep an eye on whether it’s starting to look dirty or dingy, and especially if there are any spills take care of stains right away. Who doesn’t love hot tea snuggled up with a quilt? Accidents happen. Pets add wear and tear too- let’s face it, you can’t keep them off of a quilt! 

1. Check for Stains or repairs that need to be made.

Treat and fix any defects or smudges/stains before washing.

2. Put it in your washing machine on a cold/gentle cycle.

Use a gentle cycle on your washer and use cold water. Dye and scent free detergents are best. Make sure detergent is dissolved fully before making sure your quilt is fully submerged.

3. Add white vinegar, Retayne or a Color Catcher.

If it’s the first wash and you’re worried about bleeding, you can add a splash of distilled white vinegar, some Retayne, or a color catcher in the wash.

4. Choose whether to machine dry or air dry.

Machine or air dry? Machine drying is harder on your quilt but it’s quicker and leaves the fabric softer. Use little to no heat. I like to partially dry and then lay flat to dry the rest of the way. You can fully air dry if you’d like to avoid the puckered look. Personally, I love it!

Take care of those quilts so you can keep happily snuggling under them for a long long time. 🙂

Happy stitching!