Quilts can be either really expensive, or even found within a price range, but they are so comfortable and cozy that almost every homeowner has one favorite at home! When it comes to cleaning your quilts, it can be a challenge if you don’t know how to do it. If you are looking for simple techniques on how to clean quilts, here is everything you need to know about it.
How to clean your quilt with detergent, vinegar, and water
The easiest and gentlest method to clean your quilt would be to hand wash it yourself with some good detergent. Here is how you can do it:
- Make sure that your bathtub or sink is completely clean and free of any dirt before you start.
- Fill up your bathtub or sink with cold water and add a few drops of your favorite perfume-free detergent into the mixture.
- Place your guilt into the tub or the sink gently, making sure that you submerge it entirely under water.
- Agitate the quilt for about 10 minutes so that the soapy solution really gets into the fabric and can work on it.
- Drain out all of the soapy water from your tub or sink and fill it up once again with fresh water till the quilt is entirely under water.
- Now, add just ½ a cup of white, distilled vinegar into the water.
- Allow it to sit undisturbed for a few minutes, then begin the rinsing out process. Keep rinsing your quilt till the water runs completely clear.
- Finally, allow your quilt to naturally air dry by hanging it outside on your clothesline.
How to clean your quilt in the washing machine
If you don’t want to hand wash your quilt, then you can also use your washing machine for the same process. Here is how you can do it:
- Place your quilt into your washing machine and add a few drops of a mild, perfume free, colorless detergent. Make sure that the mild detergent also does not contain any bleach in it. You can also add some color catcher product into the washing machine if your quilt has very bright, vivid colors which you think can bleed out or fade.
- Pour half a cup of white, distilled vinegar into your washing machine.
- When you run your washing machine cycle, make sure that you use only cold water, and you run it on a gentle cycle, and not spin or rinse cycle.
- You can tumble dry your quilt on the lowest setting with a few other clothes if you wish to. However, the best thing to do would be to air dry your quilt outside, away from direct sunlight, and allow it to dry completely naturally.
How to clean your quilt using a vacuum cleaner
Very often, you do not need to actually wash your quilt, especially if it is too delicate or old. You can simply use your vacuum cleaner to clean your quilt. Here is how you can do it:
- Lay out your quilt utterly flat on the floor, with a large towel underneath it is possible.
- Attach a nylon cloth or a pantyhose on the brush attachment set. Now, switch on your vacuum cleaner on the lowest setting and begin to vacuum your quilt in sections. After you clean one part, move on to the next section.
- You should altogether avoid putting too much pressure or using a medium or high setting on your vacuum cleaner, as your quilt is very delicate as it is. Once you vacuum all the sections of your quilt, gently fold it and store it back till you use it the next time.
How to clean your quilt using mild hand washing soap
Sometimes, your quilt might need a spot cleaning instead of complete cleaning. For this method, you can use a mild hand washing soap. Here is how you can do it:
- Take a small bowl of water and keep it beside you.
- Choose the spot where you want to clean your quilt accurately. Using the bowl of water, wet that particular spot on your quilt. Now, take your mild hand washing soap and rub it on the spot which you need to clean.
- You can take a soft brush or a toothbrush to scrub it, however, be extremely gentle while doing this, as you don’t want to damage the fibers of your quilt.
- Once you rub the spot on your quilt, rinse it out with cold water and move on to the next spot on your quilt. Keep doing this till you spot clean all the sections of your quilt which you think require cleaning. You can even add ½ a cup of white, distilled vinegar to the water while will help you remove all the detergent residue from your quilt.
- Once you have done this, lay out your quilt flat on a mattress, or hang it outside to dry, however, keep it away from direct sunlight and only dry it in the shade.
How to clean your quilt using an oxygen-based bleach
If you have any stubborn spots or stains on your quilt which you need to clean, you can use a very mild oxygen-based bleach to do so. Here is how you can do it:
- Place your quilt in the sink or in your bathtub and add cold water and some oxygen-based bleach into the sink or tub.
- Make sure that you completely submerge your quilt under the solution.
- Allow your quilt to soak in this solution for at least 4 hours.
- Check the stubborn stains and spots on your quilt. If some spots are persisting, simply make some more of the oxygen-based bleach and cold water solution and add it to your tub or sink. You can even spot wash the area using some detergent and a soft brush, however, be careful not to put too much pressure when scrubbing.
- Rinse out your quilt with cold water till the water runs clear.
- Air dry your quilt outside till it is completely dry.
