What You Should Know About Preservation of Old Lace…
Antique linens lace, antique fabric lace,cleaning old lace
Do your eyes pop out when you see all that “antique lace” preserved in
pristine condition at museums and auction houses? And do you keep wondering
how you can manage to attain the same effect with the lace work that has
been in your family for generations? Well, here is some help for you from
experts! And no, they do not advocate dumping your old lace on freshly
fallen snow or soaking it in buttermilk to whiten it!!
There is a method to WASHING delicate lace items. Let us assume that
you want to get your tablecloth cleaned. The first thing that you do is
to line your sink with an old towel. This towel is the sling that is going
to pick your wet tablecloth. Now, take warm water, around a gallon; the
temperature of the water should be around 115 degrees Fahrenheit. Get
hold of a non-detergent cleaner that is compatible with old textiles and
leaves no annoying residue, and pour one teaspoon into this warm water.
(The ratio is always 1:1). Okay, it is time for your tablecloth to take
a bath in this mixture. Give it permission to stay there for around 45
minutes to an hour. Once the time is up, take out your tablecloth and
rinse it. There should be water running and draining out simultaneously.
You need to put in some effort to rinse the lace thoroughly; you are allowed
to stop only when the water appears to be as clean as drinking water.
Before we go on to the drying process, go through these pointers—
(1) Lace and washing machines are not compatible; your lace will be at
the losing end.
(2) Substances like salt, lemon juice and dishwashing detergents are
never to be used for lace work.
Shall we now check out how to DRY your lace pieces? If there has been
morning dew, followed by bright sunlight, your lace better stay indoors.
You do not want the material acquiring a bleached look!
Going back to your wet lace tablecloth, place it on the towel-lined sink
just as you would a baby in its cradle. Ensure that this drying towel
can take the weight of the tablecloth; otherwise, your delicate antique
is going to be ruined. Why not supply extra padding on the sides with
the aid of soft towels or other absorbent materials? These safety precautions
are imperative for your lace work is at its most vulnerable when it is
wet. There have been instances like a wet lace dress splitting because
the clothesline could not take its weight; the wind played its part too.
When you feel that your tablecloth has lost much of its dampness, take
it out. Spread it on a flat surface or an old sheet. Utilize your hands
to shape and block the lace material; be gentle in your movements. And
to ensure that the edges do not flap while you are at it, place light
drinking glasses or small glass jars on them.
So your lace is clean now and is ready to go underground! The best wrappings
for your antiques are cotton sheets or acid-free tissue paper or unbleached
muslin. When that is done, place your stuff in cardboard boxes. Do not
put plastic around these boxes. And do not store these boxes in a cedar
chest or in the attic. Once in six months or annually, remove your lacey
antiques and allow them to breathe in fresh air. Once they are satisfied,
refold them along different lines; sticking to the previous folds might
cause the threads to weaken and disintegrate.
