A handmade quilt is a labor of love and should be considered a prized possession. You want to make sure it will last for years to come and look as beautiful as the day the last stitch of the binding was tied off. Here are some things you should never do if you want your one-of-a-kind creation to maintain its original beauty.

o Never expose your handmade quilt to direct sunlight. This causes fading, and if it is folded, fading will occur to the area that is exposed to the sunlight resulting in uneven coloring.

o Never store your handmade quilt in a plastic bag. The fabric needs to breathe. Storing it in a plastic bag for a long period of time may result in yellowing and discoloration of the beautiful fabrics.

o Never wash your handmade quilt in hot water. This was always the first instruction my mother gave me when she gave me one of her new quilt creations.

o Never use the normal wash and spin cycle on your washing machine. Use the gentle wash and spin cycle and let the machine spin only long enough so the quilt is not dripping wet. Remove your quilt from the washer and roll it up in an old blanket or two or three large towels laid side-by-side.

o Never dry on high heat. Use low temperature to start the drying process then remove it from the dryer and lay it flat to finish drying. Once it is nearly dry, you can put it back in the dryer on low or air for a short time to fluff it up and finish drying.

o Never have your quilt dry cleaned. The chemicals used in dry cleaning are too harsh for the fabric and thread.

o Never use a harsh detergent to wash your quilt. Baby shampoo is a gentle alternative to special laundering soaps.

o Never hide your lovely handmade quilt in a closet. A handmade quilt is like a masterpiece of artwork that should be used and displayed. Properly cared for, your quilt can be displayed and still maintain its beauty.

Whether it has been a gift, or whether you spent your own precious time selecting your pattern, sorting through fabric to find just the right colors and designs, washing and pressing fabric, meticulously cutting out your quilt blocks, piecing your blocks together and then spending the many hours to hand quilt or machine quilt, a handmade quilt is a work or art. Tender loving care will assure that it will last a lifetime.