How to keep your heirloom quilt as beautiful and soft as the day you bought it, launder with care.
For best results, wash alone. Use 2-4 Tablespoons of eco-friendly or “sensitive skin” detergent and wash in cold water, gentle cycle.
Do NOT use fabric softeners, perfumes or dyes. Heavy soaps or softeners will cling to the fibres and lead to a drastic reduction in the softness of the materials. If necessary, vinegar is an excellent natural fabric softener.
OPTIONAL: 1/4 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup vinegar {No vinegar smell! Just fresh and clean!}
Tumble dry on the “no heat” setting or Air Dry Cycle until the quilt is 90% dry (approximately 20-30 minutes). This will soften and fluff the quilt up.
If you are using dryer sheets, be sure they do not contain fabric softener (most do). Wool balls work well. At this time, the quilt can be pulled out to lay flat or hang to dry, helping eliminate / control static.
Here are two of my favourite products when it comes to washing my quilts:
a) Ultra-Concentrated Laundry Detergent by Norwex. No phosphates, SLS or SLES, Chlorine/Bleach, Fillers, Optical Brighteners, Animal Testing, Dyes or Fragrances.
b) Quilt Soap by Quilter’s Rule. No phosphorus to harm your fabrics or the environment. The surfactants are biodegradable. All you need is 1 Tablespoon!
Laundering with care will assure your quilt will be around for a looooooong time.
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