How to Store Antique Textiles and Quilts

Quilts, coverlets, samplers, lace and old linens are fragile, and much of the damage they suffer happens in storage. This guide is for families keeping heirloom textiles and for sellers holding them before a sale. You will learn how to prepare, wrap and store textiles so they stay in good condition for years.

Know what harms textiles

• Light fades dyes and weakens fibers, and the damage cannot be reversed.
• Humidity and heat encourage mildew, mold and insects.
• Acids in wood, cardboard and ordinary paper cause yellow and brown stains over time.
• Folding in the same place for years creates permanent creases and can break fibers along the fold lines.
• Pests such as clothes moths, carpet beetles and silverfish feed on natural fibers, especially wool and silk.
• Dirt and food residue attract insects and can stain.

Prepare items before storing

Handle textiles with clean, dry hands, and remove rings or bracelets that can snag. Work on a clean, flat surface.

• Inspect each item for insects, larvae, webbing or small holes.
• Remove dust gently by vacuuming through a piece of fiberglass screen or nylon mesh laid over the textile, using low suction and a brush attachment. Do not do this on very fragile, shredding or loose areas.
• Remove pins, staples, tape and paper tags, which can rust or stain.
• Do not starch or iron items before storage.

Washing antique quilts and textiles is risky. Dyes can run, old repairs can fail and weak fibers can tear. If an item is valuable, fragile or dirty enough to need washing, ask a textile conservator first.

Choose the right materials

• Acid-free tissue paper, unbuffered for silk and wool, buffered or unbuffered for cotton and linen. If unsure, unbuffered is the safer general choice.
• Acid-free boxes sized so items fit without being crushed.
• Clean, washed, unbleached cotton muslin or an old cotton sheet for wrapping larger pieces.
• Cardboard tubes covered in acid-free tissue or muslin for rolling.

Avoid long-term storage in plastic bags or plastic dry-cleaning covers, which can trap moisture. Avoid direct contact with wood drawers, cedar chests and ordinary cardboard boxes. If you use a chest or drawer, line it with acid-free paper or muslin first.

Roll when you can

Rolling avoids creases and is a good option for flat textiles and quilts that are in sound condition.

1. Cover a tube longer than the textile's width with acid-free tissue or muslin.
2. Lay a sheet of tissue over the textile.
3. Roll the textile around the tube with the right side facing out, keeping it smooth and even.
4. Wrap the finished roll in muslin and store it horizontally on a shelf or supported at both ends.

Fold carefully when you must

If space requires folding, pad each fold with rolled acid-free tissue to soften the crease. Fold as few times as possible. Every few months, take the item out and refold it along different lines so creases don't set. Store the heaviest items on the bottom and avoid stacking too much on top of any one piece.

Pick a good storage spot

Choose a cool, dry, dark place with stable conditions, such as an interior closet in the living area of the house. Avoid attics, basements, garages and outside walls. Keep items off the floor and away from pipes and windows. Check stored textiles every few months for pests, moisture and new damage.

Displaying instead of storing

If you want to hang a quilt, sew a fabric sleeve to the back along the top edge and slide a rod through it so the weight is spread evenly. Avoid nails, clips and tacks. Hang it away from direct sun and rotate displayed quilts periodically so each one rests. Framed textiles should be mounted by a framer experienced with textiles, using acid-free materials and UV-filtering glazing.

If you find insects or mold

Isolate the item right away in a sealed bag, away from your other textiles. Insect and mold treatments can damage textiles if done incorrectly. Ask a textile conservator for advice, especially for valuable or fragile pieces.

Quick checklist

• Inspect items and remove pins, tape and tags.
• Use acid-free tissue, acid-free boxes and cotton muslin.
• Roll flat textiles or pad folds with tissue.
• Refold folded items every few months.
• Store in a cool, dry, dark interior space.
• Avoid plastic bags, bare wood and attics.
• Consult a conservator before washing valuable pieces.