Ask
the Experts:
Nancy Kirk
Question:
We were given two feedsack quilts from the 1930's, but there are some fold
stains and a couple of small stains that look like blood. What is the
best way to have them cleaned? Any tips or advice will be very much
appreciated.
Quilt teacher and collector Nancy Kirk replies:
Start by vacuuming the
quilts. Purchase a 16" x 20" piece of fiberglass screen and bind the
edges. (These screens are available at home improvement stores.)
Place the quilt face down on a table and place the screen on top of it. use
a clean upholstery brush and vacuum through the screen with an up and down
motion. When finished with that rectangular area, move the screen to
the next section, leaving an overlap from the previous section. Repeat
the process until the entire back has been vacuumed. Turn the quilt
over and vacuum the front. It can take three hours or more to properly
vacuum a quilt. It's easier if two people work together (and the quilt owner
buys lunch). Switching jobs every 20 minutes, one person holds the screen in
place while the other person vacuums.
Because this will remove
50% to 80% of the dirt, there is much less work for the detergent to do when
the quilt is washed. If the quilt still needs washing, test the
fabrics for colorfastness with a Q-tip and warm water. Most feedsacks
are colorfast, but it is especially worth checking reds, yellows and dark
blues. When you have determined it's safe to wash the quilt, line the
bathtub with a white cotton sheet. Place the quilt on top of the sheet
and fill the bathtub with water and Orvus, a pure detergent that has no
perfumes or fluorescents. Always use up and down pressing motions with
your hands while washing (and also when rinsing). Because of the loose
weave of the feedsacks, it is important to handle the quilts as little as
possible and to avoid twisting and wringing motions. Rinse the quilt
several times until the water runs clear. Press all the excess water
out with clean terrycloth towels or new large sponges (the kind used to wash
cars). Once again, use a pressing motion rather than wringing the quilt.
Lift the cotton sheet on the bottom to transfer the quilt from the bathtub.
Once the quilt is as dry
as possible, place a washable blanket and a dry white cotton sheet on a bed
or on a clean floor. Place the quilt flat and use two box fans to blow
air on the quilt. All but the thickest quilts will dry in less than
three hours.
For extra protection
against "tide marks " (the uneven line of minerals which leave a discoloring
stain when the top surface dries unevenly) on the quilt, cover the surface
with clean cheesecloth. Textiles dry from the bottom to the top.
The cheesecloth will become the "top" layer, and the final evaporation will
trap any minerals from the water in the cheesecloth. With proper care
your feedsack quilts will be heirlooms for your family to enjoy for many
generations to come.
About the Expert:
For more
information on cleaning, storing, and displaying quilts, you can order
"Taking Care of Grandma's Quilt" by Nancy Kirk at her website,
www.kirkcollection.com.
The Kirk Collection offers other cleaning and conservation supplies as well,
and Nancy teaches quilt restoration workshops. Acid free boxes and
tissue for storage are available at
www.quiltcare.com
Back to the Current Ask the Experts.
|
Ask the
Experts
