How to Wash a Quilt Step by Step (and Keep It Cozy for Years)

Whether it’s a handmade heirloom, a vintage find, or a nearly brand-new coverlet pulled from the linen closet, knowing how to wash your quilts properly is essential in preserving their look and longevity.

Unlike sheets or duvet covers, quilts require a gentler approach due to their layered construction of individual fabric pieces, batting, backing, and careful stitching. Fortunately, with a thoughtful process and the right techniques, washing a quilt at home can be both safe and effective.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to washing your quilt carefully, with expert advice from Anthony "Sully" Sullivan, OxiClean's Stain Master, to help you keep it cozy, clean, and in ideal shape for years to come.

Step 1: Read the Care Label (and Take It Seriously)

Before anything else, check the quilt’s care label. This step may seem obvious, but it’s often overlooked—and it’s one of the most common mistakes people make.

"If a quilt is labeled dry-clean only, it’s important to follow that guidance to preserve the fabric and construction," says Sullivan. "Many people assume quilts can be washed like regular bedding, but ignoring the manufacturer’s care instructions can lead to shrinking, color bleeding, fabric distortion, or damaged stitching."

If your quilt doesn’t have a label—common with handmade or vintage pieces—always err on the side of caution.

Step 2: Spot-Treat Before You Wash

Treating stains individually can reduce how often the entire quilt needs washing, which helps preserve the fabric. "For best results, pre-treat individual stains with a product like OxiClean MaxForce," suggests Sullivan. "After applying, wash the quilt according to the care label to fully remove the stain and product. This approach helps prevent over-washing, protecting the quilt’s seams, batting, and colors."

Let the stain treatment do the work—scrubbing aggressively can damage delicate fibers and stitching.

Step 3: Choose the Right Temperature and Cycle

Water temperature and cycle are two of the biggest factors when it comes to properly cleaning your quilt. Heat and rough agitation can weaken seams, fade colors, and compress batting.

“Use cold or the gentlest water temperature allowed by the quilt’s care label," says Sullivan. "Avoid hot water, when possible, especially if the quilt is handmade, vintage, or delicate. This will help preserve the stitching and the batting.”

Equally important is the wash cycle: “Wash on a gentle or delicate cycle. This reduces agitation, which helps protect stitching and batting integrity and preserves color over time.”

If your washing machine has a center agitator and the quilt is particularly large or fragile, consider visiting a laundromat or professional cleaner. A front-loading washer or a high-capacity machine to reduce stress on the fabric.

Step 4: Use a Mild Detergent—and Skip the Bleach

Harsh detergents and chlorine bleach can do more harm than good for quilts. “Use a mild or standard detergent rather than harsh detergents,” Sullivan says. "For example, a detergent, like Arm & Hammer Laundry Detergent."

For brightening or whitening, Sullivan recommends choosing gentler alternatives to bleach: “For whitening or brightening quilts or bedding, it’s better to use non-chlorine, 'oxygen-based' brighteners or color-safe stain removers or boosters if the quilt’s fabric allows," says Sullivan, "to avoid fiber damage or fading."

Step 5: Air-Dry with Care

Drying is where many quilts sustain damage, especially from excess heat or gravity. "The safest method is to air-dry the quilt flat," Sullivan says. "This minimizes stress on seams, stitching, and batting, and prevents color distortion."

If air-drying isn’t practical and you need to use a dryer, proceed with caution. "If you need to use a dryer, set it to no-heat or the lowest heat setting, and remove the quilt before it’s fully dry," explains Sullivan. "Then lay it flat on a clean surface to finish drying. This helps prevent shrinkage, keeps batting from clumping, and protects the fibers."

One thing to avoid entirely? Hanging a wet quilt. "Avoid hanging a heavy, wet quilt—the weight can stretch seams or distort shape, and batting may clump or shift."

Step 6: Wash Less Often Than You Think

Quilts don’t need frequent laundering, and over-washing them is a common care mistake. “Repeated full washes stress the fabric more than needed,” Sullivan explains. Spot-clean when possible, and reserve full washes for when the quilt truly needs it.

Using a washable quilt cover or rotating quilts seasonally can also reduce wear.