Textile conservation
Anita Quye explains how to look after fragile fabrics for future generations
How do you (or someone else) clean your dirty clothes? No doubt in the washing machine with shop-bought detergent. But what if the clothes were family heirlooms, like your great grandparents' wedding outfits? These are unlikely to be washed in the same way as your everyday gear and instead would probably be washed by hand with special 'gentle' detergent or taken to the dry cleaners.
Careful handling is essential to protect delicate historical textiles during wet cleaning. A shallow bath with just enough solution to cover the flat textile and very gentle padding with a natural sponge helps minimise physical damage to the vulnerable wet textile
Why the special treatment? Well, for one thing, the outfits have been kept for a long time, probably 80 years or more, and the fabrics will have aged and become fragile. The mechanical action of the washing machine and the chemical strength of today's commercial detergents would prove too harsh for the fibres and physically damage them. These vintage clothes are also heirlooms, part of your family's history. If they become damaged, they can't be replaced easily, if at all.
Thanks for using Education in Chemistry. You can view one Education in Chemistry article per month as a visitor.
Register for Teach Chemistry for free, unlimited access
Registration is open to all teachers and technicians at secondary schools, colleges and teacher training institutions in the UK and Ireland.
Get all this, plus much more:
- unlimited access to resources, core practical videos and Education in Chemistry articles
- teacher well-being toolkit, personal development resources and online assessments
- applications for funding to support your lessons
Already a Teach Chemistry member? Sign in now.
Not eligible for Teach Chemistry? Sign up for a personal account instead, or you can also access all our resources with Royal Society of Chemistry membership.