washing very old quilts with stains

No matter how you clean the quilt, it really needs to have the binding put on FIRST! If you don't, the edges will really suffer in any kind of overall washing or cleaning, and you might even need to cut off some of the edges all the way around the quilt.

What are the stains?

Can you make a guess as to what type of stains they are? Blood? Grease? Mildew?

-Irene

Bunny, a lot has to be considered here. What are the stains? Did the dog roll on it after an unfortunate encounter with a skunk or fish innards? or are the stains merely mysterious brown spots? How precious is the quilt to you? The reason I'm taking your question so seriously is that I gently washed some baby garments that grandmother had saved. They had the unknown little brownish spots. The clothing absolutely disintegrated. Probably the stains were formed by acid or such in the paper or box that she had used to store them. I wish I had not washed them. On the other hand, if the quilt is something of no sentimental value to you AND the stains are too offensive to bear, you still better bind it before you consider any kind of washing method. Polly

Hi Bunny,

I'd go ahead and bind it first and then clean it. It will help stabilize it.

Happy cleaning,

Lenore