- Keep textiles out of sunlight and fluorescent light. Don't store them in direct contact with acidic cardboard, paper, or wood.
- Acidic materials will slowly destroy your heirlooms. Acid-free materials may be buffered (slightly alkaline) to help counteract the effects of acids or unbuffered (neutral). Buffered materials are safe for most treasures but choose unbuffered for fabrics.
Image: "Polonaise -- draped for Fall 1954 -- French silk chiffon jersey in a black cocktail dress designed for Samuel Winston by Roxanne." (Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Collection)
Saving Kentucky's Past -- Preserving Fabrics and Rugs
Fabrics - Use and Display
- Wearing heirloom clothing always introduces the risk of rips or stains. If you must wear it, avoid antiperspirants and makeup.
- Wear cotton gloves to handle heirloom fabrics. Move the fabrics on a support or in their boxes.
- Do not smoke, drink or eat near your garments. The fabric will absorb the smoke, and consequently the smell. Drips and crumbs will attract insects.
- Display fabrics flat or hung at an angle to reduce pull. When you bring your textiles out into the light, keep the light low and the occasion brief.
Fabrics - Storage
- Avoid folding fabrics for storage: creases weaken fibers and cause garments to become brittle and crack. Roll them. If fabrics must be folded, pad the folds with acid-free tissue to avoid creasing.
- Store textiles in acid-free boxes with acid-free tissue between layers, or wrap them in clean white sheets.
- Do not store fabrics in cardboard boxes. These release damaging acids.
- Use only padded wooden hangers padded with clean white cotton cloth to the same size and shape as the article's shoulders to hang vintage clothing, and cover with unbleached muslin. Plastic bags trap moisture, as well as release chemicals under extreme conditions.
- Do not use mothballs or crystals. These products are extremely toxic and leave a permanent odor.
Fabrics - Care
- Never wash or dry clean antique fabrics. Blot any spills immediately and seek expert advice.
- Sturdy items can be cleaned with a vaccum cleaner on low suction, using the brush attachment covered with cheesecloth.
- Keep pests out by practicing good housekeeping. If you suspect problems, consult a conservator -- don't use pesticides or mothballs without professional guidance.
Rugs - Use and Display
- Avoid placing heirloom rugs under heavy furniture, or in areas adjacent to a window. Heat causes wool to lose its natural oils, which weakens the threads. High humidity also damages natural fibers and may cause colors to bleed.
Storage
- To store rugs or heavy blankets, roll them with the pile outward around PVC pipe that has been wrapped in acid-free tissue. Then, wrap the roll with washed muslin (undyed 100% cotton).
Care
- Always vacuum a carpet in the direction of the pile, and if delicate, use a protective screen over the rug when vacuuming.
- Do not use commercial carpet shampoos. These are too harsh for natural fibers, and can weaken them or cause fading. Shampoos also cause dust and dirt to be more likely attracted to the fibers after cleaning.
Glossary
acid-free tissue - In the course of time most tissue paper will become acidic and brittle with age. The acidity will transfer to adjacent objects causing these objects to become weaker and possibly discolored. Acid free tissue papers are specially processed to remove such contaminants. An 18 pound weight paper is useful for quilts, coverlets, and the storage of other flat textiles. For stuffing or interleaving, a lighter 12 pound paper is better. This lighter acid free paper is also known as "laminating tissue."
conservator - persons who periodically
examine objects, document their condition, and, if necessary, treat and repair
them to protect collections over time.
For more information or to locate a professional conservator, visit The
American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works.
muslin - a thin plain-weave cotton cloth used for curtains, sheets, and dresses
PAT test (photographic activity test) - a test that predicts possible interactions between photographic images and the enclosures in which they are stored. Boxes or other types of enclosures that hold several images, even if those images are in envelopes or sleeves, should be tested too. Many of the harmful chemicals in poor-quality enclosures can become airborne and, over time, work their way to the photograph.
PVC pipe - a lightweight, durable, and waterproof plastic pipe used for plumbing
polyethylene bags - flexible, extremely tough, and chemical-resistant plastic bags commonly used as sandwich or freezer storage
ragboard - board made from cotton and contains no wood (lignins). Little pulping or purification is required because cotton is the purest natural form of cellulose. Rag board is also called Museum Board, is acid-free and meets the standards set by the Library of Congress for museum quality matboard. It is available with or without buffering.
unbuffered - containing neither alkaline nor acid