What Not To Do When Preserving Baby Blankets
That soft, well-loved baby blanket holds so many memories for you and your child. You can probably still picture your little one clutching it tightly, relishing its familiar scent and texture. That blanket is a tangible link to those fleeting early years, a piece of their childhood you want to hold onto forever. Well, you can.
However, many people don’t preserve baby blankets correctly, often resulting in irreversible damage. Well-intentioned mistakes can turn your treasured memento into a discolored, fragile relic. Properly preserving baby blankets is kind of a science, and understanding what not to do is just as important as knowing the right steps. But don’t get stressed—we’re here to help! This guide will walk you through the most common errors to avoid so you can retain the keepsake’s quality for as long as possible.
Never Store in Plastic Bags or Bins
One of the most frequent mistakes parents make is storing precious textiles in plastic. It feels like a secure choice; plastic bags and airtight containers seem perfect for shielding the blanket from dust, moisture, and pests. Unfortunately, this method traps moisture and creates a microclimate that can accelerate fabric decay.
Textiles, especially natural fibers like cotton, wool, and linen, need to breathe. When they’re stuck in a plastic container, any residual moisture in the fabric or the surrounding air gets locked inside. This environment encourages mold and mildew, which stain fabric and weaken its fibers.
Additionally, many plastics release chemical fumes through a process known as off-gassing. These chemicals can react with the fabric, causing it to yellow and become brittle. Ultimately, plastic storage virtually guarantees long-term damage instead of protecting your cherished blanket.
Do Not Use Cardboard Boxes
Plastic is a no-go, but what about cardboard? Unfortunately, using one of those moving boxes you have lying around is another surprising mistake. Most cardboard boxes are acidic, either due to chemicals used in manufacturing or lignin, a natural substance in wood that binds fibers but becomes acidic as it breaks down. This acid can migrate from the box to the fabric, causing it to yellow, discolor, and weaken over time. This process, known as acid migration, is slow but certain.
Even boxes marketed as “archival-safe” can be misleading if they aren’t truly acid-free and lignin-free. For true long-term preservation, you need a box that is specifically designed for archival purposes, made from materials that are pH-neutral. Simply placing your baby blanket in a regular moving or shipping box is setting it up for eventual deterioration.
Avoid Washing With Harsh Detergents or Fabric Softeners
Before storing the blanket, you should wash it thoroughly to remove any dirt, oils, or food stains and crumbs that could attract pests and discolor the fabric. But don’t just toss the keepsake in with the rest of your laundry. The mistake many parents make is using their everyday laundry detergent and fabric softener.
Detergent can be a problem if it contains optical brighteners, which are chemicals that make fabrics appear whiter and brighter. They work by absorbing ultraviolet light and re-emitting it as blue light, creating an illusion of cleanliness. This is great for blankets you keep around the house, but it’s not so great for a delicate keepsake because the chemicals can break down and cause the fabric to yellow.
Likewise, fabric softeners coat fibers with a waxy residue that can attract dirt and make the fabric less breathable. This residue is difficult to remove and can contribute to the fabric’s decay as it sits in storage.
Again, these products are fine to use for everyday laundry. But the blanket is probably worn down through years of use, meaning it’s more susceptible to damage from anything but the gentlest of cleaning methods. The safest bet is hand-washing. However, you might get away with a gentle machine cycle and a pH-neutral detergent with no added dyes, fragrances, or softeners.
Stay Away from Mothballs and Cedar Blocks
The fear of moths and other pests eating away at treasured textiles is valid. This fear often leads parents to use mothballs or cedar blocks as a preventative measure. While effective at repelling insects, these items can damage your baby blanket.
Mothballs are made of naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene, solid chemicals that turn into a gas. This gas is a pesticide that is toxic to insects, but its fumes are also harmful to people. Worse, it can impregnate the fabric with a strong, unpleasant odor that is nearly impossible to remove.
Cedar blocks and chests are a more natural alternative, but they’re also risky to use. The aromatic oils in cedar that repel pests are acidic. Just like with acidic cardboard boxes, when the fabric is in direct contact with the wood, these oils can transfer to the blanket, staining and weakening the fibers. A better approach to pest control is to store the blanket in a clean, acid-free, chew-proof, sealed box and inspect it periodically.
Do Not Store in Attics, Basements, or Garages
Where you store the blanket is just as important as what you store it in. Attics, basements, and garages are popular storage locations, but they are the worst possible environments for textiles. These areas experience extreme fluctuations in temperature and humidity, and this cycling tends to accelerate fabric aging.
Moreover, high humidity in basements promotes mold and mildew growth. Likewise, an intensely hot attic in the summer can accelerate the chemical breakdown of fibers, making them brittle. And worst of all, both spaces are more prone to pests like rodents, silverfish, and carpet beetles, which are drawn to natural fibers.
For safe preservation, choose a storage location within the main living area of your home, such as a closet in a spare room or the space under a bed. These areas offer a more stable climate, protecting the blanket from environmental and curious-critter damage.
Preserving your child’s baby blanket is such a sweet act of love, a way to keep a piece of their early years safe for the future. By knowing what not to do, you give that treasured keepsake the best chance of staying in good shape for a long, long time. Proper care now means that years from now, you can pull out that blanket, still soft and beautiful, and share its story with your child and the next generation.
If your child needs a blanket to snuggle and love, Bunnies by the Bay offers customizable Lovey security blankets. They’re soft, baby-safe, and perfectly fit for preservation when the time comes. Check out our collection to find a comfort object your little one will cherish.