We want to support our local sewing/quilt stores. We rely on them for fabrics, supplies, and our sewing machine service. Recently, Tom’s Sewing in Surrey, was destroyed by fire and smoke. The clean-up is astronomical. The effort required to sort through all the merchandise that belonged to customers to see if it can be replaced or repaired is a slow process.
As an independent educator, I had quilts in the store as samples of classes I would be teaching there this Spring term. The store received mostly smoke, ash, and water damage. Now it is my turn to be a student instead of an educator. How do I salvage my quilts? Maybe I should just start over and make a new quilt.
Research on restoration and care for damaged quilts was suddenly at the top of my list of things to do. The internet has a wonderful source of information for us, but the information can be confusing if not darn right conflicting information. One site on the internet gently reminds us that smoke damage can be from an all out building fire, cooking that created burned food and created smoke, or even cigarette smoking. Some smoke damage is just odour, but some smoke damage results in ash being ground into the quilt fibers. Extreme heat can cause melting of fibers, and of course water can cause stains when it is full of ash. Threads, especially polyester based threads, can actually melt in high heat.
Most of the information on the internet was for companies wanting you to purchase their product/service to restore your quilt. But you can do some basic steps at home to help the restoration process of your beloved quilts. The first step is to assess the total damage. Is it just the smell you want to remove? Are the fibers actually damaged? Did the thread or fabric melt? Is there ash ground into the fabric? Is there discoloration of the fabric? All of these things need to be determined first. The type of damage will dictate the restoration required.
The most interesting fact I found on the internet about damaged quilts was to keep it wet. If it dries out it will be harder to remove the offending issues. Washing needs to be very gentle in a tumble/spin washer rather than an agitating washing machine. If the quilt is all ready dry and has ash on it, gently vacuum the item before you wash. Some sites recommend a gentle wash with vinegar in the water to start with. Several washings may need to be done. Use a gentle detergent with a deodorizer component to the soap to help absorb the offending odours. Wash the item several times before sending it to the dryer. The dryer may set stains that are not completely removed during the washing process.
If you have any hesitation at all in trying to rescue your well loved quilts, it may be worth the cost of a professional restoration service. Insurance agencies or even the fire department may be able to give you a lead on good quality fire restorers in your area.
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