Vintage and antique quilts come to us carrying evidence of the lives they have lived. Fading, repairs, worn fabric, discoloration, and stains are common in textiles that may be many decades—or even more than a century—old. These characteristics are part of their history, but they also deserve accurate photographs and honest descriptions.
A recent conversation with a customer raised an important question: Could an unidentified stain on an old quilt be blood—and, if so, would that make the quilt a biohazard?
The customer’s comments below have been shared anonymously and lightly edited for punctuation and readability. Their meaning has not been changed.
The Customer’s Concern
The quilt in question had visible staining that was disclosed in the listing and shown in the photographs. After receiving it, the customer concluded that the stains were blood. She told me:
“In natural light, it was evident that it was blood, and it concerned me as a biohazard.”
She also said:
“I know there are risks with laundering these old quilts, but as resellers, we also have a responsibility to our customers.”
Another portion of her message read:
“I’ve come to expect that even if they don’t look dirty, they are—but I’d never send anyone one covered in what is obviously blood.”
She further explained:
“I’m not saying you intentionally misled me. I’m just saying you should disclose that it’s blood if it’s that obvious, due to the chance of spreading a potentially very harmful virus.”
I understand that discovering an unpleasant stain can be concerning. I also agree that sellers have a responsibility to disclose visible condition issues. Where I respectfully disagree is with the assertion that the origin of an old stain can be definitively identified simply by looking at it—even in natural light.
Can Blood Be Identified by Appearance?
A reddish-brown or dark stain is not automatically blood. Rust, dye migration, food, beverages, medicine, soil, animal matter, water damage, and oxidation can all leave discoloration that changes as a textile ages.
The customer offered this opinion:
“Your ad also showed some of the bigger spots that, to me, looked more like rust or accumulated dirt that lifts with a 24-hour soak, repeated treatment, and water changes but In natural light, it was evident that it was blood, and it concerned me as a biohazard.”
I have washed more quilts than I can count. Dirt and accumulated grime can often be substantially reduced through careful soaking and repeated water changes. However, there are also many stains that will not come out, regardless of how carefully or thoroughly a quilt is washed. Blood is not the only substance in this category.
Substances and conditions that can leave permanent or set-in stains include:
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Rust and other forms of metal oxidation
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Blood and other bodily fluids
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Animal fluids
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Wine, fruit juice, berries, and other foods
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Coffee and tea
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Grease, oil, and cosmetics
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Ink, paint, and dye
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Mildew and mold
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Tobacco and smoke residue
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Water and mineral deposits
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Wood stain, furniture stain, and storage-container residue
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Fabric-dye transfer and color bleeding
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Age-related yellowing and oxidation
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Deterioration or discoloration associated with madder-dyed fabrics and unstable mordants, particularly in fabrics from the late 1800s and early 1900s
On an antique quilt, a stain’s source generally cannot be determined from its color or appearance alone. Even reddish-brown discoloration is not proof of blood. Rust, dye transfer, food residue, and oxidation can all produce a similar appearance.
A photograph or visual inspection cannot conclusively establish that a stain is blood. Testing would be necessary to identify the substance, and separate laboratory testing would be required to determine whether an infectious pathogen was present.
Neither a buyer nor a seller can truthfully identify an unknown stain as blood based solely on its appearance.
My Experience Working in a Medical Laboratory
Years ago, while working toward my degree in computer science, I worked in a medical laboratory for 10 years. I am not unfamiliar with bloodborne pathogens or the concept of universal precautions.
In a medical setting, universal precautions mean treating all human blood and certain bodily fluids as potentially infectious, regardless of whose specimen it is or whether an infection is known to be present. Modern healthcare guidelines use the broader term “Standard Precautions,” but the underlying principle remains familiar: Do not attempt to determine safety simply by looking at a specimen. Use consistent precautions whenever a genuine exposure may occur.
That raises an important question: Do we handle every dirty or stained antique quilt as though it is covered in infectious blood, or do we visually decide which stains “might be” or are “obviously” blood?
If we are going to apply the language of “biohazards” and “universal precautions” to old quilts, we must apply those concepts consistently. We cannot select one reddish-brown stain and declare it dangerous while assuming that every other unidentified stain is harmless.
That does not mean reasonable precautions are unnecessary. It means that appearance alone is not a reliable method of identifying either blood or an infectious hazard.
During the customer conversation, she shared online information about dried blood and biohazards. I replied:
“Thanks. I worked in a medical laboratory for 10 years. I’m aware of bloodborne pathogens and the likelihood of spreading disease that way.”
She responded:
“Well, that’s especially concerning, but I don’t feel there’s anything more to say, so I’ll leave it at that.”
I took that as criticism. Because my experience and knowledge led me to a conclusion that differed from what she believed to be true, that knowledge itself was now described as “especially concerning.” Message received—and duly noted.
My intention was not to dismiss the existence of bloodborne pathogens. I was distinguishing between a recognized exposure to fresh, infectious blood and an unidentified, completely dry stain on an old textile.
Where Do We Exercise Restraint?
I do not fault a buyer for being concerned about a stain. I would also never knowingly sell a quilt heavily stained with blood. Additionally, if I was certain there were some blood stains on a quilt I would launder it before selling it and disclose that the remaining stain was set blood.
The difficulty is in the word “knowingly.”
Where do we exercise restraint when discussing antique quilts and unidentified stains?
Quilts have covered people, children, and animals. They have been used as bedding, moving blankets, picnic blankets, and protective coverings. They have been stored in trunks, attics, barns, sheds, and basements. Some have covered old furniture, lawn equipment, tools, and countless other household possessions.
People and animals bleed, but they also leave behind many other forms of biological material. Depending on how it was used or stored, an old textile could potentially have encountered saliva, nasal drainage, skin oils, perspiration, urine, fecal matter, semen, vaginal secretions, wound drainage, or residue from an infection.
That is not pleasant to consider, but it is part of the unknown history of secondhand textiles. It is also why visual identification is unreliable. If a person is uncomfortable handling any textile that might have come into contact with biological material at some point during its history, an untested antique quilt may not be the right purchase.
The History These Quilts Have Witnessed
Many antique quilts were made during periods when washing a large, heavy textile was difficult and time-consuming. Quilts were not necessarily laundered frequently, and some surviving examples may have gone many years without being washed.
They also existed during periods of serious infectious disease:
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The 1918 influenza pandemic killed an estimated 675,000 people in the United States.
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Tuberculosis remained a major cause of death during the early 20th century. In 1940, the U.S. tuberculosis death rate was approximately 46 per 100,000 people.
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The 1952 polio epidemic produced more than 21,000 reported paralytic cases.
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Before the introduction of the measles vaccine in 1963, an estimated three to four million Americans contracted measles annually, with approximately 400 to 500 deaths each year.
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The 1957–1958 Asian influenza pandemic caused an estimated 116,000 U.S. deaths.
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The 1968 influenza pandemic caused approximately 100,000 U.S. deaths, primarily among older adults.
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The HIV/AIDS epidemic, beginning in the early 1980s, profoundly affected generations of American families.
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The 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic caused an estimated 12,469 U.S. deaths.
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The COVID-19 pandemic caused more than one million reported U.S. deaths.
Some of the vintage and antique quilts we love have likely borne silent witness to illness, hardship, and death. Yet we continue to appreciate, collect, and preserve them.
Importantly, the fact that a quilt existed during an epidemic does not mean it carries that disease today. Historical association is not evidence that a stain contains infectious material. A stain’s substance, age, and origin cannot be determined from its appearance, and the age of a textile does not automatically make it a biohazard.
My blogging software only allows me to attach one photo per blog post. To get the full set of photos of the quilt in question, visit this link: https://janjthreads.com/products/vintage-quilt-peach-hexagonal-star
What Is the Actual Bloodborne-Disease Risk?
Bloodborne diseases such as HIV and hepatitis B or C require exposure to infected blood. Transmission generally requires infectious material to enter another person’s body through a puncture, broken skin, or a mucous membrane such as the eyes, nose, or mouth.
Simply touching an old, dry stain with intact skin is not the type of exposure normally associated with bloodborne-disease transmission.
According to the CDC:
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HIV does not survive long outside the human body or on surfaces.
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Hepatitis B can remain infectious on environmental surfaces for at least seven days.
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Under certain conditions, hepatitis C can survive on dry surfaces and equipment for up to six weeks.
These time periods are important because a vintage or antique quilt may be 50, 75, or more than 100 years old. An original stain that has been dry for years or decades is far beyond the environmental-survival periods identified for HIV and hepatitis C and far beyond the period specifically documented by the CDC for hepatitis B.
Therefore, the likelihood of contracting a bloodborne disease through ordinary handling of an old, dry stain is extremely low—effectively negligible when the handler’s skin is intact.
This is entirely different from encountering fresh, wet blood or being punctured by a recently contaminated needle. Those situations require immediate cleaning and prompt medical advice.
Could a stain on an old quilt have been added more recently? Of course. That possibility cannot be completely eliminated.
However, the Janj Threads process also allows time to pass. From the day a quilt arrives, it generally takes approximately six to eight weeks to research the pattern, examine its construction and condition, take photographs, prepare the description, and activate the listing. Some quilts are listed sooner, while others are listed much later.
That interval does not replace basic hygiene, but it places most listings at or beyond even the six-week dry-surface survival period cited by the CDC for hepatitis C. The nature of the stain still cannot be identified visually, but the passage of time further reduces an already extremely low risk.
Sensible Precautions for Handling Old Textiles
Although bloodborne-disease transmission is not a realistic concern from ordinary contact with an old, dry stain, vintage textiles can contain dust, mold, animal hair, insect residue, and other irritants (fodder for another blog post).
Reasonable precautions include:
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Wearing disposable nitrile gloves when handling heavily stained or soiled textiles.
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Covering cuts, abrasions, and broken skin.
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Washing your hands after handling.
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Avoiding shaking dusty textiles near your face.
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Carefully checking quilts for forgotten pins or needles.
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Keeping an unlaundered quilt away from children and pets until it has been examined.
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Consulting a textile professional before cleaning an especially fragile or historically significant quilt.
Not every antique quilt should be immediately washed. Unstable dyes, fragile fabrics, deteriorating seams, delicate appliqué, and damaged or shifting batting can all be harmed by laundering.
Washing may reduce dirt, grime, and some forms of staining, but it does not guarantee that every stain will disappear. A permanent stain is not proof that the substance is blood, just as a removable stain is not proof that it was merely dirt.
The Janj Threads Approach
At Janj Threads, I make every reasonable effort to photograph and describe visible fading, stains, holes, seam separations, fabric loss, repairs, and other condition issues. I also disclose whether a quilt has or has not been laundered by Janj Threads.
However, the previous ownership and complete history of an antique textile are rarely known. Unless a stain has been professionally tested, its origin cannot be definitively identified.
Calling an unidentified stain “blood” without evidence would not be more transparent. It would be presenting an assumption as fact.
If I have laundered a quilt, that information is included in the listing. If a quilt has not been laundered by Janj Threads, that is also disclosed. This information allows buyers to make informed decisions about their purchases.
Going forward, Janj Threads listings will include the following clarification:
Stain Disclaimer: Vintage and antique textiles may have stains, discoloration, or other marks of unknown origin. Janj Threads does not test stains and cannot confirm their source or composition through visual inspection alone. Although a stain is not necessarily biological, it could potentially contain or have originated from human or animal biological material. Without appropriate laboratory testing, no stain can be definitively identified.
We do our best to photograph visible spots, stains, yellowing, and other condition issues so that customers can make informed purchasing decisions. Removing stains or yellowing may require extensive soaking or laundering, and some discoloration may be permanent. Permanent stains are not an acceptable reason for return. All sales are final.
If you have concerns about the origin of a stain or your personal comfort or safety when handling an antique textile, please consider those concerns carefully before purchasing. All Janj Threads sales are final.
Transparency Without Unfounded Claims
The customer concluded her message by saying:
“This conversation and issue will remain between us, but please, for the safety of others, disclose it.”
Her concern encouraged me to research the subject more closely and clarify the stain language used in my listings. That part of the conversation was worthwhile. Customers deserve honest information, clear photographs, and the opportunity to make informed purchasing decisions.
At the same time, responsible disclosure means distinguishing among what is visible, what is suspected, and what is actually known.
A visible stain can and should be disclosed. Its origin should not be stated as fact without testing.
Antique quilts have histories we cannot fully reconstruct. My responsibility is to show their condition truthfully—including their imperfections—while avoiding unsupported conclusions about what those imperfections may be.
That is not an attempt to minimize anyone’s concerns. It is an effort to be accurate.
Other Potential Health Threats
This article discuss one small piece of the pie when it comes to potential health risk and vintage and antique quilts. In my next blog I will go down the rabbit hole that is the many potentially harmful chemicals that have been used in textile dyeing since the late 1800s. Some were actual colorants; others were mordants, bleaching agents, reducing agents, or finishing treatments. “Caustic” specifically means capable of burning or corroding tissue, while “toxic” includes substances harmful through inhalation, ingestion, or long-term exposure. Think arsenic, lead, Mercury and Picric Acid. Quilts from certain eras most certainly contain potentially harmful materials and are likely more of a threat than dried up blood spots. Now consider contaminates that are environmental...rodent feces which can cause Hantavirus or Mouse Meningitis ( lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV)). Consider Molds, which generally are more identifiable than blood and according to the CDC can cause allergic reactions, breathing irritation, and severe infections in people with weak immune systems. The list is endless and if we are going to call out one hazard, should we not call them all out?
Final words...
From the very start of the conversation with the unsatisfied customer, I offered to refund her money and pay to have the quilt returned to me. She decided that was the best plan of action. I also offered to pay her for the time she spent washing the quilt, but she did not take me up on that offer. I made an exception to my no returns policy...sometimes you have to make exceptions, this was one of those times, as in my opinion there was nothing that was going to appease her more.
Should seller's wash every quilt that passes through their business? There are many opinions regarding this. I would love to hear what you think and the reasons you do. Please leave a comment and share your thoughts. Janj Threads will continue to wash when I feel it's needed and not when I feel it's better not to, but I'm open to opinions and reason behind them.
Edited 10/02/2026: I unpacked the quilt today. There is extensive damage to the fabric due to the washing process the customer used. Oddly enough, most of the stains are either gone or lifted enough to be barely seen. Of course the customer couldn't resell the quilt, it's been damaged beyond repair.
If you've gotten this far, thanks for sticking with me!
Warm regards and many thanks,
Carol
Janj Threads - Founder
This post is provided for general educational purposes and is not medical advice. Anyone who experiences contact with fresh blood through a puncture, open wound, eyes, nose, or mouth should promptly consult a healthcare professional.
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