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STORING ANTIQUE LINEN and LACE

The Lace Museum Detroit adheres to principles of Cleaning & Storage as dictated by: 

The Victoria and Albert Museum: www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/c/cleaning-textiles

The Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute: http://www.si.edu/mci/

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Storing Antique Lace and Textiles

Storage areas should be clean, cool, dry, dark, and free from drastic changes in temperature. Textiles should be cleaned and stored un-ironed and un-starched. There should be no contact with tissue or paper. Paper tends to be acidic; acid is especially damaging to textiles. Instead, wrap textiles in clean, white cotton or muslin cloth. Textile fibers need to be in an environment where there is some air movement; the best place to store antique textiles is on top in a drawer.Textiles also should not be exposed to light because the natural cellulose fibers (cotton and linen) and animal fibers (silk and wool), of which most antique textiles are made, are damaged by the sun and indoor light fixtures. The ideal temperature is 65-70°F (18-21°C), with relative humidity between 40% and 50%.

The mid 18th century Goffering Machine was often used in the Laundry Rooms of very wealthy homes. This is like a Miniature Mangle with ribbed surfaces that, when used, gave linen a freshly frilled finish (below).

(photos are courtesy of Castle Ward, County Down of Northern Ireland). 

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