How to Wash an Old Quilt with Stain Removal Tips

Have you ever been to an estate sale and found an old quilt tucked away in the closet, only to pull it out and see it covered in stains and smelling musty? Don’t leave it behind!

I can show you how to wash it, remove the stains, and give it new life!

Thrift stores, flea markets, and estate sales are popular places to find old handmade quilts, but often their condition is not so great.

Or maybe some quilts were handed down to you, and they’ve seen better days!

In this post, I will walk you through my method for how to wash an old quilt as well as treat and remove many stains and dirt spots.

It’s time we rescue these old pieces of care and handiwork so they can be lovingly used again!

Disclaimer on Washing Vintage and Antique Quilts

Before we dive into my process, it’s important to acknowledge the risks that come along with washing old quilts.

These pieces were carefully stitched anywhere from 10 to 100+ years ago, so it’s a good idea to consider some complications that may come up when you expose old thread and fabric to modern detergents and water.

Some quilts may be best left unwashed, especially ones that are deemed truly “antique” (meaning 100+ years old) or ones that have historical value.

Because of the potential damage that the washing process may cause, you may consider not washing any quilt:

That has existing holes and tears. Washing may further weaken these damaged areas of fabric
That has colors prone to bleeding (think bright reds and pinks, or cobalt blues)
That has wool batting or is thicker in loft. These quilts tend to get lumpy when soaked in water

But with all of that said . . . I’ll admit I have washed quilts that fall into each of those categories!

So my best advice is to use your good judgment.

I’ve had a quilt that was already so soft and worn, I was concerned a wash may cause it to break apart completely. So I aired it out in the sun instead.

But I’ve also had plenty of quilts with holes and tears that I decided to wash, and they turned out fine. I figured the benefit of cleaning the quilt outweighed the risk of another tear.

I’ve also washed a very dirty wool quilt, mainly because it was, well . . . very dirty.

I knew nobody would want it like it was, and washing it would give it a better chance at being loved and reused again.

It did get a little lumpy, but it also got cleaned and was sold to a new home!

My theory of washing quilts is similar then to my theory of painting furniture: if you think washing the quilt will help it be loved again by someone, wash it!

Much like painting a piece of old furniture can help it be appreciated again.

But if the quilt is a fine antique or washing it may damage it beyond use, then I would likely just lay it out in the grass to air out on a sunny day.

Ultimately, wash at your own risk.

Steps to Remove Stains and Wash an Old Quilt

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So when you’ve decided to wash, the next step is to gather your supplies.

I like to use powdered Oxi Clean and the regular blue Dawn dish soap as detergents when I wash quilts.

You will also need somewhere to soak the quilt–a bathtub works great, or a large utility sink.

I’ve even soaked a quilt in a plastic tub before (although it was hard to lift when it was time to dump out the water).

Step 1: Treat the Noticeable Stains

I often find isolated stains on old quilts, and the good news is that most of the time I am able to get them out!

To treat the stains, make a paste with OxiClean powder and a tad bit of warm water. Then apply this paste directly to the stains on the quilt.

I like to lay the quilt out flat somewhere, so that I can easily see and get to all the stains.

Once the paste is applied, allow it to sit for anywhere from 1 hour to overnight. The darker the stain, the longer you should let it sit.

** One note of caution here–I have had this process lighten up the fabric a bit. To me, this is preferable, though, to a big gross stain. But if your quilt is a vibrant color, you may want to test a spot first or allow the OxiClean to sit for about an hour max.

Once you’re ready, wash off the OxiClean paste using hot water. You should see the stains gone or significantly lightened!

Step 2: Wash the Entire Quilt

Now that the spot stains are dealt with, it’s time to clean the quilt as a whole.

My favorite place to do this is in a bathtub. But if you have a standing utility sink, that would work as well.

Fill the tub or sink with cold water and squirt in a generous squirt of Dawn dish soap.

If the quilt is especially dingy, you can also mix into the water more OxiClean powder at this step.

Submerge the quilt in the soapy water and gently agitate with your hand. Allow to soak for 2-4 hours.

Step 3 : Rinse the Quilt and Repeat

After soaking for a bit, you may be amazed at how dirty the water gets! All that ick was in your quilt, but now it’s out–yay!

You must drain the dirty water and refill the bathtub or sink with fresh cold water. Agitate the quilt again in the water, as you rinse out the soapy water and excess dirt.

Allow this next soak to sit for another 1-2 hours. If you come back and the water is still dirty, repeat until the water is clean, then drain.

Sometimes I have to rinse a quilt 3-4 times! It all depends on how thick it is and how much dirt it holds.

Step 4: Gently Wring Out Excess Water

This is probably the trickiest step of the whole process and the greatest chance to cause damage. Old quilts hold a lot of water in them, and they will be very heavy and cumbersome to handle.

You want to avoid pulling the wet quilt directly out of the tub or sink, as this will put a lot of stress on fragile old fabric and thread.

First, gently squeeze and press against the quilt while it’s inside the tub to remove excess water.

You can also pull it up against the side of the tub or sink and let it sit for about 30 minutes. This will allow gravity to pull some water out as well.

Once you can pick up the whole quilt easily, keeping it in a tight ball, then it’s safe to remove it from the tub or sink.

Step 5: Spin out excess water OPTIONAL

Even at this point, your quilt will still have a lot of water left inside the fibers.

To speed up the drying process, I toss my quilts into my front-loading washing machine and set them on a medium-spin cycle.

If your quilt is especially fragile, you can skip this step. Or if you have a washer with an agitator, I would for sure skip–agitators can cause damage.

The main reason I use the washer is because I have had a quilt dry out before without being spun, and as the moisture evaporated, it left residue lines on the quilt where it wasn’t fully rinsed . . . and I had to start the process over again.

Spinning it in the machine helps get out all the extra dirty water and soapy residue, so I think the quilt dries cleaner. Just a thought.

Step 6: Lay the Quilt Flat to Dry

While the quilt is wet, do not hang it over a rack! It should dry flat.

My favorite place is on the tile in my bathroom, or you can set it out in a sunny spot in the grass.

This could take anywhere from an hour to all day, depending on how thick your quilt is and if you spun it out in the washer.

Step 7: Enjoy your Fresh Clean Quilt!

This method has worked for me over a dozen times now!

It’s helped revitalize dingy quilts and remove unsightly stains that detracted from the quilt’s beauty.

It also removes musty odors and helps the quilts feel soft to the touch! Ready to cuddle.

Again, please proceed with your quilts with caution! I can’t guarantee this process will be foolproof; you wash any quilt at your own risk.

However, if I can save a quilt from a trash pile by trying my hand at washing it, I’m gonna give it a go!

A Few Questions about Washing Quilts

Can I just toss a quilt into the washing machine for the whole process?

It depends! If the quilt is newer and has no holes or weak spots in the fabric, you can wash it on a gentle cycle in the washing machine. However, I would only use a machine that is front-loading or top-loading with no agitator. In general, the older the quilt, the more it would benefit from a hand-wash than a machine wash.

What if I don’t have OxiClean?

Regular blue Dawn dish soap can work wonders! You can try dabbing a bit of full-strength Dawn directly onto stains to treat them, however I have only ever had real success on dark stains with OxiClean. For general soaking and dirt though, Dawn works great.

How can I tell how old my quilt is?

This can be tricky! The best way is to look at the fabrics used. There are a few great books out there than can help you identify and date fabrics. Most vintage and antique quilts will be made with cotton and muslin. Any quilt with polyester is for sure newer.

Is there any way to clean a quilt without washing it?

Airing out an old quilt on a sunny day can help remove musty odors, and may even lighten some stains. If you have concerns about washing your quilt, airing it out will be your best option.

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