A few enemies of our treasured quilts include light, dirt, humidity, heat, insects, and pressure, among others. As we discussed in a previous article, never put any quilt in direct light, whether natural or artificial. With few exceptions, most of these dyes were not very color-fast, which is why we see greens that have faded to yellow or dull blue, purples that have faded to tan, and blacks have disintegrated the fiber completely. Even today, the dyes currently available can fade fairly rapidly when exposed to light. Before you put a quilt in storage, take time to clean it.
Bugs like to eat food stains and spray starch.
Be sure to take care of any problems before storing your quilt. Usually, just a good vacuuming will take care of most problems. Consider wet cleaning only as a last resort and realize that it will deteriorate your quilt to some extent. Be sure to consult some knowledgeable sources before attempting to wash an antique quilt. Never store your quilts in plastic bags.