OH its beautiful. I'm not a good one to give advice considering I don't have a Miele but I'd just be sure to use some sort of gentle agitation. And yes to the Purex...don't use any oxygen bleach or other boosters except STPP If you want. Use warm water. Most likely its been exposed to heat but ya never know. Dry on low, not cool but close to it. It will need dryer tumbled just not hot.

Look it over well before washing snd if you need to make repairs do it before washing.

It really is very pretty...I'm jelly.

Went through something similar. Started off very very gentle with Le Blanc in warm just to see if the fabric could take the tumble action and that it didn't lose shape or color. Did not dry it after and continued to monitor the fabric, eventually was able to work up to a stronger detergent, warmer water and then dry it (There was a lot of white fabric that was dingy). Came out amazing after and like new.

Thanks Mammapinky! I think I'll try the old Miele w1918. It has a delicate cycle, high water, slow spin options, and warm 105f water temp. I'll just use the Purex natural, because I know that is a very simple liquid detergent.

Thanks Cal. Great to hear you were successful with your quilt. That is encouraging. I think I'll go with the Purex. I have a gentle tumble in the dryer and low heat.

Actually, I'd post this question on https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/. You'll have to sign up, but it's free. It's a really busy forum. This question has been addressed several times on that forum. I believe they recommend Dawn, because it keeps the die from running, but I'm not sure. There are also specialty detergents for quilts, but I just don't know the details. Someone there will.

bkay

There are vintage soak products for quilts. I collect a lot of antique textiles, which I use and machine wash.

Miele machines are great, and your plan sounds good. You might put a couple of dye catchers in the machine in case the pink runs, so it doesn’t bleed into the other fabrics.

You can dry the quilt laid out on the grass. Don’t hang it when it’s wet.

Great advice from hcbm. I'd only like to add to use Orvus for your the detergent and to lay a folded sheet down in the bathtub before putting the quilt in so after you've let it drain you can grab the corners of the sheet to use to pull it out if the tub (even if you roll it first- always err on the side of caution. Fabric is weakest when wet, never pull on the quilt.

I'm a vintage dealer and have washed many this way.

You will get all sorts of answers, I promise. I've been quilting since 1989 and have heard and read it all. LOL.

There is no sure way to know if the dyes will run except to test small areas. My first quilt I ever made had some cranberry reds in it and I always machine washed and dried it. Never bled. Then I started listening to the purists, so the next time I let it air dry. That was a mistake because the reds had time to bleed into the plain muslin patches. Argh! It never came out. I should have machine dried it again.

If you decide to wash it, use the delicate setting with cold water or the no heat setting since it's summer and tap water isn't half freezing. That delicate setting has the most water in the wash cycle on our Miele. Use a detergent that has no optical brighteners or sodium percarbonate, or any somesuch bleach substitutes. Orvus livestock shampoo is also marketed as quilt soap. One tablespoon of that or baby shampoo should be enough. YMMV. Orvus can suds up a lot but if the quilt is dirty enough, even from dust, it won't suds too much, if at all. I would avoid powder detergent because it might not all dissolve.

Then dry immediately in the dryer on the gentlest cycle until it is almost dry, and lay flat to finish drying. Minimal time in the dryer is important to reduce friction, which is abrasive on the old cotton.

I have never washed an antique quilt in the bathtub. The darned thing will weigh a ton from all the water and stitches can break from that weight when you carry it to wherever it will dry. Lots of quilters feel the same way. We don't all agree on how to do things. lol

If this quilt has so much sentimental value that you don't want to risk washing and possible damage, a good vacuuming will be okay, as long as it has no bad odors.

Please, do not have it dry cleaned.

Good luck, and let us know what you decide to do and how it turns out.

Be sure to use 3 shout colors catchers in the wash. They will keep the colors from transferring to other aress on the quilt. I use them all the time and they work great on quilts

Well thank you all!

i washed as I said I would with Purex Naturals liquid detergent. It’s a liquid that is my go to for gentle washes. Love it. Washed in the old Miele at 105f, gentle, extra water, & low spin. Dryer on gentle. It looks great. I’m sure this quilt has been washed in the last 26 years cause that’s when they moved. It will not be used, but lay out on a twin bed.

Picture taken at night the first picture was in daylight. The results look excellent:

It truely is lovely. Glad it worked well for you. I assumed when I gave advice that it was probably washed in the past and knowing the old skool launderesses it took hot baths.

Anyway its washed and survived and is a conversation piece for sure.

Great result. You babied the quilt and I bet it would stand up to a fairly normal wash since the textiles appear to be colorfast. With the Miele there is little risk. Well done!

What a treasure. I'm glad it washed so well.

My little treasure is my own basinette quilt and I'm 77 so it's definitely antique. I wash it in Purex naturals also. Love it. Good work, enduring, and lovely quilt.

Thanks for the follow-up report, enduring! It looks wonderful, and you did not break your back doing it. :-)

You are all thanked for your help!

I recently bought an old quilt at an auction. After I received it there were a few small repairs to be done which I did. Otherwise the machine stitching was fine (had been done on a sewing machine, the lines of stitching were not straight) and the fabric robust, so I washed in hot with Tide. Came out beautiful.

Lucille your one gutsy launderess. Lol glad it was a success.

I agree @mamap, laundry does take guts, lol

I also use only Orvus soap, color catchers, and synthrapol on something new that needs the color set.

One other comment i would make - My mother is in assisted living and when she moved in three years ago, I made her an applique quilt, quite elaborate and lovely. Much to my chagrin, I found out later the caregivers would throw it in a washing machine and dryer every so often if they thought she had soiled it in any small way. Now it has been washed and machine dried about 30 times and you'd be amazed how perfectly it has held up. So, if that one can do it, any of them can!