If you choose to display your collection in your home, use some common sense. Don't put breakables on a corner table where pets or young children can accidentally bump into them or on a lightweight shelf that could collapse. Instead, consider placing sturdy shelving high on a wall where your collection can be admired out of harm's way.
With valuable framed art, photography, or paper documents, consider having a copy made of the original and framing it. Then store the original work of art in a secure, climate controlled location where it will not be exposed to light or moisture. Reese also recommends using non-glare glass on all your framed pictures.
Heat, humidity, and insects are enemies of all textiles, art prints, wood, and paper items, old or new. That means you shouldn't display or store them in basements, attics, or garages. Direct sunlight, fluorescent lights, and mildew are especially damaging. Certain materials such as fabric and celluloid are easily flammable, so make sure that they are not displayed near a heat source including light bulbs.
Keep stored quilts and other textiles away from plastic bags or boxes, wooden surfaces, and regular tissue paper. If you must store them in a wooden drawer or on a closet shelf, place a clean cotton sheet between the wood and the fabric. The best storage area is a large roomy cupboard or chest where they can be folded and loosely stacked, not tightly packed. While wearing cotton gloves to prevent damage from body oils, carefully refold quilts every few months to prevent wear on the crease lines. An extra bed is also an excellent way to display quilts.
Never wash an old quilt yourself. Some newer fabrics will melt and older fabrics may shred. If an old quilt is truly dirty or has large stains that detract from its design, use the services of a professional conservator. Quilts over 50 years old or newer quilts made from delicate fabrics such as silk and velvet should always be cleaned only by professional textile conservators. If a quilt has a musty smell, a simple airing should eliminate the problem. Place a fully open quilt outdoors on a clean cotton sheet out of direct sunlight. Never iron quilts.
If antique glassware has a cloudy interior, never put it in a dishwasher. Simply fill the item with warm water and a denture cleaning tablet. Let soak for several hours and rinse. Repeat if necessary.
