Long-term storage of quilts

I suppose I always looked at this issue as over time the resistance to compression would (could) lessen…meaning the materials would deform or break further the longer they are compressed. Imagine if a crossbow was left cocked for an extended period. The limbs would deform under the pressure over a long period of time. So when the item was decompressed there would be issues of it returning to its original structure. Perhaps graphite and a diamond would be too long of an example :)

You've got it, Brian. As I understand it, the number of times one cycles through compression/expansion is the real culprit…I remember reading a thread here on BPL that testified to that fact…something about a high-quality down bag being found in storage and unpacked after over a decade under high compression, and once it was allowed a few days to loft up it was good as new. I'd like to say that I saved that link, but I didn't…

Edited for grammatical purposes only.

I know nothing about this, but some materials can take a set or undergo permanent deformation if stressed long enough. Maybe down and synthetics do, too.

In any case I always stuff my quilts/bags loosely in large, breathable sacks. I have down bags going on 35 years now that loft up good as new.

bed. Just put it there and all is well. Or put it in the big storage sack that came with your bag and hang it in the closet. Come to think of it, I just fully unroll my pad, put it under the bed first, put a few towels on top of it, then put the bag on top. If you have cats, the ole' under the bed trick is not recommended though.

I've tried digging up more information on this subject but it seems to lack any substantial evidence. I've read a few reports from people that their sleeping bags will bounce back "as good as new" from being compressed…but if it takes a few days to loft it really isn't as "good as new" …not to mention any real measurements given. However survival bags put in fighter planes are vacuum sealed under high compression to save space…but I suppose they are not meant for years of service. While it may not really hurt to leave a bag compressed I don't see a reason to unless your living quarters are severely restricted.

Envision a fluffy down cluster and setting a book on it. Take the book off and it springs back into its normal three dimensional shape. But leave it compressed long enough and the cluster fibers will begin to take a set into the two dimensional shape. Its still elastic, it just wants to spring back to the flat shape. Relieved of compression the fibers will only slowly relax back into a three dimensional shape. Some fluffing and perhaps some fluctuation in humidity will help speed the process along but it could take a while (days to weeks) to regain a 3-D set. Once the 3-D set is re-established the cluster will quickly rebound from a short term compression cycle. See there -data is for people with no imagination.

Yeah…imagination is all well and good…but I prefer having actual data.