Hello all. You are all terrifying me with the things you are doing to your textiles!! I'm a student in a master's program for textile conservation, and I have a few things to say.

 

1. DO NOT CLEAN YOUR TEXTILES WITH OXYCLEAN!!!! When mixed with water it has a pH of 11, which is INCREDIBLY high and will weaken the fibers of the fabric considerably (it may tear). Also, as much as it's considered color safe it does contain bleaching agents that can stain or considerably whiten something you might not want to look so stark.

 

2. TEST any colors for running BEFORE you wash something. If the dye bleeds, DONT WASH IT.

 

3. Hand wash cotton or linen items with Orvus. Leave silk and wool items alone.

 

4. DO NOT have things drycleaned unless the item is in VERY good condition. Dry cleaning involves your antiques tumbling around in a vat filled with other people's dirty clothing. Dry cleaning solvent is also used over and over again for multiple cycles.

 

5. When in doubt, get the advice of a textile conservator in your area!

 

6. Most importantly, UNDERSTAND that your items are old, and no amount of washing and stain removal is going to change that. Some stains are a testament to the long life your textile has had, and you should learn to embrace them, or at least live with them.

Thank you, "unknown Pink," for tacking this thread to the top.  Invaluable information.

 

Once again, folks, as you come along and have a question, start a new thread so you can get responses; don't add them here.

 

Almost every cleaning question imaginable has already been answered in this thread so sit back, grab a cup of coffee, tea, or lemonade, and spend a couple of hours reading.

 

You'll be glad you did.

 

Brenda

One of the charter members of NAVT

(Although we don't have a charter...lol)

GPSA Glass & Pottery Sellers' Association * NAVT
Needle Arts & Vintage Textiles Board * Facebook
Group Blocked Bidders List - eBay BBL

Hi,
I make a powdered detergent using fels naptha. This is the recipe:Powdered Laundry Detergent 1 cup grated Fels Naptha Soap 1/2 cup washing soda 1/2 cup 20 mule team borax Mix and store in airtight container or bag. For normal loads, use 2 tablespoon. For heavy loads, use 3 tablespoons.

I found the fels naptha soap at my local grocery store (Publix).

For other recipes using fels naptha go to soapsgonebuy.com.

Please start a NEW thread each time you have a question which hasn't been answered in this cleaning thread. If your question doesn't pertain to cleaning, it definitely needs a new thread of its own. Most, if not all cleaning solutions have been suggested here but have been answered repeatedly in individual questions; that's why this thread is here and is so helpful. Help regarding other subject matters need their own individual threads. Brenda

GPSA Glass & Pottery Sellers' Association * NAVT
Needle Arts & Vintage Textiles Board * Facebook
Group Blocked Bidders List - eBay BBL

Hi... It sounds to me as though you have a wonderful Antique Jacquard woven coverlet....probably wool for the Indigo and cotton or flax for the white.,,,,a nice early one. Please, please, please don't use any harsh chemicals on it !!!! If the white is merely off color, I would say leave it alone and just air it in the shade. If it needs real cleaning up find one of the experts here who know these coverlets and has had experience with them.....they are heavy to begin with and I can't imagine the threads would hold up if wet.
If you can't decide....just send it my way and I promise to love it forever !!!!! I have a red and white one that I love to keep it company !!
Good Luck with it. You aren't near Buffalo New York, by any chance ?
Carolyn

Hello Judy B,
I have a collection of WW I hankeis. I do not care about age foxing but some of them have creases.
I know that natural colors are used at the time that may run.
Any tip how to deal with creases ?
I thought of soaking hankies in cold water for a very short time and dry them between two towels to the point that they are still moist.
Can I iron them almost cold iron placing white linen over the hankie while ironing ?
If you find this question you can kindly answer to my email address: jesusrediscovered@yahoo.com
Best regards and thanks in advance
Ivan

Hi, I have just found this board and it is wonderful. I'd like to ask a question as I can't find an answer online, and there seems a real range of knowledgeable people out there! I have an old 1930s dress made out of satin. The woman who sold it said it was 'grosgrain satin'. It is very thick, heavy satin, and has an alternating pattern of grosgrain-textured panels followed by 'satin' texture panels. Anyway, there are several stains on the hem of the dress, some look like watermarks. Does anyone know if you can handwash satin, or spotclean with water? I don't want to distort the fabric or cause more watermarks...

I have heard that dry cleaning is a no-no for 1930s fabric, as it can be too damaging...

Any tips would be gratefully received!

Thanks!

Ivory Snow in powdered form works best for me as a vintage cotton fabric soak. I stir the powder into 160 degree water, mix until completely dissolved, then add cool water. The amount of detergent depends on how many yards are going in the soak. One scoop is about right for a small to medium load. The most I've ever used was two.

Sometimes a scoop of Sun Oxygen Cleaner is added to the mix. It works better in our water than the other brand. In many years, only one feedsack lost any color in Sun but that was after the 18 hour mark. Fabrics dating no earlier than the 1920s do best for me in the Ivory/Sun mix.

The fabrics are soaked in the tub for 48 to 72 hours. Some fabrics that were beyond hope have come out pristine and others that looked easy to clean weren't. It can be a roll of the dice.

Era Free works pretty well, too, but takes longer and isn't as good at getting out yellowing. 20 Mule Team Borax gets out funky odors. I haven't used it on anything really bright and would be hesitant to try.

Shall I dip or splash some fragrant into laundry machine in addition to detergent and baking soda? Does it works? Thanks.

I'm amazed by the depth and breadth of knowledge regarding fabrics. I am going to try some of these methods on the midcentury tablecloths/linens I collect. My questions isn't about cleaning, it's about repair. I have many talents but sewing isn't one of them. Everytime I've tried to sew up a hole, it's become a bunched, bulky mess. Does anyone have tips on how to repair holes, especially in vintage tablecloths?

Thanks,
Melissa

Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.

Can anyone help!! I sprayed Oxiclean Spray and wipe away on my silk wedding dress (not the brightest thing), it left a yellow stain where I sprayed it! The dry cleaners can't get the stain out.... Does anyone have any suggestions!! Thanks.