Southwest USA Genealogy & History

Do you want to know how to wash an old quilt? Are you afraid to subject your heirloom quilts to water or detergent?

Careful handling of delicate hand made quilts is very important in preserving a family heirloom. What if you want to use an old quilt? How should you care for it?

I was recently asked by a friend if I knew how to wash an antique quilt. Yes… I do, but it depends.

If a quilt is a family heirloom and very delicate, you should spend the money to have it professionally preserved. Just like preserving a wedding gown, the process is wonderful at keeping a quilt in perfect condition. The only problem is… now you can't use it, or even see it. It must be protected from light, dust and air. 

If a quilt is an antique or yard sale find, but not necessarily in need of preservation, then washing is fine. Never put a quilt in the washing machine. 

My 100 year old grandmother taught me to wash quilts in the bath tub. It's a tedious process, but only necessary once a year or so.

• The tub must be clean… free of any soap, bath oils or hair.
• You will wash in warm water.  Not HOT.  Just warm to the touch.
• Wash with Dreft or other baby washing soaps only.
• If the quilt has stains, use Oxy Clean or denture cleaning tablets in the water.
• Never ring or agitate your quilt in the water bath.
• The quilt is left folded and gently patted in the soapy water, then the water is drained and tub is filled again. The quilt can be left to soak in soapy water for a few hours to help loosen soil and dust.
• Rinse the quilt in the tub as well. This is a fill the tub, pat the quilt and then drain the tub… process.  Time after time.  I do this at least 10 times.  I want all soap residue out of the quilt.
• The quilt should be folded into as small a square as possible and then leaned on to drain out as much liquid as possible, without straining the material.
• Gently lift the folded quilt out of the tub onto a large clean (preferably white) towel.
• Carry outside to clean grass area. 
• Roll the quilt in several towels to drain or wick away as much water as possible and then spread on clean white sheet to dry.  I try to place the quilt out in late afternoon and let it dry overnight.  (Remember to turn off the sprinklers)

Here is more information about Caring for Old Quilts

Mexican Genealogy | Website with a list of over 1700 names of male settlers of the Alta, California.

From Wikipedia: Alta California - covering the land that belongs to the modern-day US states of California, Nevada, Utah, northern Arizona , western Colorado, and southwestern Wyoming.

Next to each name is a number associated with the first time this name appears on the records of California. 1769-1800.

The names are compiled from mission registers of baptisms, marriages, and deaths  and company rosters, pueblo padrones, and thousands of miscellaneous documents  by Hubert Howe Bancroft in his book:

 The History of California, Vol. I 1542-1800.