Handmade Quilt Care

Your Amish Quilt is a work of art, and deserves gentle, loving care. Generally, today's quilts are made of washable fabric and batting, and these three layers are held together with stitches of quilting thread. Proper, gentle care that doesn't place stress on these quilting threads will allow your quilt to last for decades.

Cleaning Options

If your quilt has strong colors in it, you may choose to spot-clean it and air it out occasionally instead of washing. Some people prefer to have their quilts professionally dry cleaned. Otherwise, quilts are washable either by hand in a clean bathtub, or in your washer on the gentle cycle — follow the steps below.

Washing Instructions

1. Fill the washer with cold water and add a small amount of Woolite or another gentle soap — about half of what you'd normally use — with no fabric softener, bleach, or brighteners.
2. Mix the soap into the water (agitate briefly, or swirl it in by hand), then turn off the washer.
3. Put your quilt in the washer and push it down so it gets all wet. Gently bob it with your hands to work water into every area. Do not let the washer agitate the quilt.
4. Let the quilt sit and soak in the soapy water for about 2 hours.
5. Run the spin cycle to remove most of the water.
6. Refill the washer with cold water, turn it off again, and let the quilt soak for several hours to rinse.
7. Spin out the extra water, then carefully lift your quilt from the washer.

Drying

Spread your quilt out on clean towels in a shady part of your lawn to dry, line dry it, and/or put it in the dryer on air fluff only.

Storage

When not in use, store your quilt in a cloth bag or pillowcase. Never leave your quilt in a plastic bag, or store it directly on a wooden shelf.