Quilt Care for the Twenty-First Century Page 2     Some people hang a quilt on the wall, and there it stays year after year. This may not be a problem in the immediate future, but it will be for future generations. A good rule of thumb when displaying a quilt is six months up, six months down. If the quilt is very fragile or light-sensitive, it may only be able to be displayed for special occasions such as holidays. If you display a quilt on a bed or other flat surface, try to keep all your two-footed and four-footed friends from jumping and playing on it. How should I store my quilt? The best way to store it is laid flat in a low-light, moisture-free environment. Some people store their quilts on a guest bed, one quilt on top of another. If you are going to fold your quilt, put rolls of batting, soft flannel, or acid-free tissue paper in the folds. If you use acid-free paper, keep in mind that this finish is not permanent. It is recommended that you change it annually. Acid-free boxes last a little longer—two to three years. Quilts should be folded in configurations of thirds, and they should be refolded at least twice a year to avoid dangerous fold lines. They can then be wrapped in a sheet or other cloth or placed in a pillow case.     Some very delicate quilts such as the Crazies, Log Cabins, Yo-Yo quilts, Cathedral Windows, any quilt with a high amount of embellishment, or simply fragile old quilts, can be rolled. Obtain a cardboard roll from a carpet store and cover it with soft batting and clean muslin or flannel. Lay a clean white sheet or large piece of unbleached muslin over the front of the quilt and wrap it to the inside, rolling the quilt carefully—not too tight and not too loose. Cover it with more clean muslin or flannel. You can store the roll under the bed if you make a little stand for it. Small wooden blocks make good stands with two nails standing up on each block to accommodate the ends of the roll.     To protect them from things that go chomp in the night, you can put your quilts inside a cedar chest, wrapped in cotton first, as cedar can stain. Some people find that Artemisia (Southern-wood), an herb, placed in a cloth bag, and hung near the quilt can help with insect problems. Don't use mothballs! Aside from the genuine risk they pose to your health, they also can interact with some of the dyes or mordants in antique quilts and cause damage. Checking the condition of your quilts periodically is the best hedge against bugs. My quilt is dirty; should I wash it? It seems as though in America, anthing that is made of textile just can't get dry-cleaned or washed enough. Both are a bad idea in this instance, as they tend to fade colors, wear out fabric, and generally shorten the life of quilts.     If you do have a quilt dry-cleaned, use a dry-cleaning company that specializes in such cleaning. Contact a museum with a textile collection for recommendations. Keep in mind the dry-cleaning can absolutely shred some quilts, and in some cases the dyes or mordants will again create some very unexpected effects.