With the right care, a well-made quilt will last you for years and years. Maybe it was passed down to you from a family member, purchased secondhand, or painstakingly sewn by you; whatever the case, your quilt can sustain all kinds of unwanted damage and wear if you aren’t storing it properly.
Luckily, the right steps to keeping a quilt in good shape for a long time aren’t too complicated. Here, we’ll go over steps to take if you want to be able to use, reuse, or gift a quilt sometime in the future.
How do I fold a quilt correctly if I plan on storing it for a while?
Folding your quilt the traditional way by putting the edges together and putting it into a square can lead to creases that are difficult to get out. To reduce these creases and make them easier to remove, fold your quilt on the bias.
Folding “on the bias” refers to folding using diagonal lines rather than straight ones. There are specific ways to do this properly, such as this method from Ma Tante Quilting, and doing so will spread any creases across more flexible areas of the quilt fabric. When you take your quilt out of storage, especially if it’s a delicate fabric or an older quilt, you won’t have to put nearly as much effort into removing any creases from bias folding.
Should I store a quilt in a plastic bag?
Plastic bags are often not the best idea if you plan on storing a quilt for some time. A plastic bag can trap moisture and prevent any ventilation, leading to either mold or overly dry fabric. Many plastic bags break down over time as well, releasing gases and chemicals that can further damage the quilt. For best results, store your quilt inside a breathable garment bag.
You can usually get away with storing a quilt inside a vacuum bag if you need to, but make sure you wrap it in a pillowcase or another fabric container before doing so, as this will keep the quilt separate from the vacuum bag’s plastic and prevent any damage from the plastic breaking down.
What conditions are best for storing a quilt?
To keep your quilt from suffering long-term damage from the environment, store it in a cool and dry place away from UV light that could fade the fabric. A cedar chest is a classic and time-tested place that prevents too much moisture or heat from getting to a quilt, and wrapping the quilt in muslin or acid-free paper before putting it inside will further protect it from damage.
Attics, garages, and basements aren’t very good environments for quilts, as they’re subject to heavy temperature and humidity changes that can damage the fabric. For best results, put your quilt in a cedar chest and put that cedar chest in a climate-controlled storage unit so the temperature and humidity will be as predictable as possible.
How do I keep pests away from my quilt?
Insects and rodents are known to make homes in unprotected quilts, and if you don’t protect your quilt properly, it can come away full of holes or even insect eggs. Storing your quilt in a storage unit will help prevent this, and mothballs or peppermint insect repellent will help keep pests away without damaging the quilt with chemicals.
How do I find a storage unit for my quilt?
If you take the right care to store it properly, your quilt will remain in perfect condition for years and years to come. Protecting a quilt from the elements, folding it on the bias, and keeping pests away are all easy to do, and they’re much easier if you choose to store your quilt in a climate-controlled storage unit.
If you’re set on finding the right storage unit for your quilt, we can help! Use SelfStorage.com’s built-in search tool to compare prices on units near you with the features you need most of all.
