Bedspreads and quilts and pillows—oh my! My young daughter enjoys pulling all of the aforementioned items off of our beds and creating what she calls “Pillow Mountain.” The puffy monstrosity usually sits at the end of the hallway—the perfect spot for her to hurl her body into after running at maximum speed down the strip of carpet.
The point of this blog is not to give you tips of how to create the perfect pillow mountain (I’ll save that for another blog). Rather, I wanted to provide some care tips on a few home items, including bedspreads, quilts and pillows. In previous blogs I shared tips for treating comforters and electric blankets, but neglected other bed coverings.
BEDSPREADS
Long before the advent of the classic comforter most beds were covered with a simple bedspread. (As a child I had a thin cotton bedspread covered with pictures of colorful batons). You can either fold the bedspread back to expose the pillows, or if you are like my mother you could insist that it be laid over the pillows. Typically, cotton bedspreads can be machine-washed following the care instructions printed on the label. If your washing machine cannot accommodate a king-sized bedspread I would recommend visiting a local laundromat to use an industrial size washer.
QUILTS
We are very fortunate to be related to someone who loves making intricate handmade quilts. We have so many exquisite quilts I use them to serve multiple purposes. In my daughter’s room alone I have one hand-stitched quilt featuring her favorite animals hanging on the wall. A simple pink one with her name embroidered on it is being used as a blanket in her playhouse and another one acts as extra bedding folded at the foot of her bed. The one that sits at the end of her bed is durable and can be machine-washed in the gentle cycle. However, the handmade heirloom quilt that decorates her wall deserves careful treatment. I purchased a special washing solution at a quilt supply store, though I also got excellent results when I had it professionally dry-cleaned by a laundry that specializes in fine linens.
As a general rule, older quilts (ones that have been handed down from generation to generation) should not be exposed to direct sunlight and should be refolded frequently, using new folds, to avoid permanently creasing the fabric. If you own an antique quilt, I would suggest keeping it in a wooden chest and off your bed.
PILLOWS
In a previous blog I shared tips on finding the perfect pillow. The following are some tips on how to make your favorite pillow last for years to come.
Down and down-and-feather pillows: Don’t try to wash these types of pillows on your own. Rather, they should be dry-cleaned once or twice a year. Our local laundromat offers pillow-cleaning services.
As for synthetic pillows, generally they can be machine washed, but check the care labels first. Regardless of how you care for your pillows, you should plan to wash them at least twice a year.
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