Actually, altar guild manuals are full of instructions for laundering fine linen. Tehre are some on line - though one has to do a number of searches to find them. An especially good one is on the web site of one of the companies that sell altar linen. Boy, my memory is short!
It is very complicated. Use only very mild detergent like ivory - or better, use white rain shampoo. Its conditioners are better for the natural fibers. The REALLY complicated part is drying and pressing it. Several people might have to help stretch it into shape first. You have to iron it on a towel with a warm iron, and keep turning it over. Tehre are all sorts of strategies of what to do with stains. That is particularly a problem on altar linen. Stain removers work well, but over time they can weaken the linen and cause holes. Never use bleach - that seems to instantly create holes! Yours, Dora Smith Austin, Texas [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, August 24, 2003 10:22 AM Subject: [lace] businesses that care for linens > In the last two weeks or so, I have received about 4 requests for information > about laundering fine linens. In one case, it was a piece of crochet dating > from the 1940's that had had some red dye run into it. In another, a woman > inquired about some cutwork, filet lace, and miscellaneous other things that > appear to me as though they date from the first half of the 20th century, possibly > the 1920's. She wants to know how to take care of them. > I find that when I begin to explain the whole thing about Orvis, which has to > be obtained in a specialty store, and the procedure, which involves window > screens in some cases, the recipient of the information begins to tune out. In > addition, providing info about conservation facilities such as that at the > American Textile History Museum is entirely off base because these are not museum > quality objects and the individuals have no interest in spending hundreds or > even thousands of dollars on these items. I think that what people want me to > provide is the name of a fine hand laundry capable of handling these items. Do > such places exist anymore? How does one find them? I am also in a quandry > because many of these items from the 20's have negligible value, but they are now > 80 years old. What should people be doing with them? Should they use them, in > which case, can anything 80 years old actually withstand washing, even let's > say 4 times a year after family gatherings? Or should they keep them in the > closet to protect them? But why would you do that, since they are virtually > valueless as antiques? > Thoughts? > Devon > who avoids using fancy linens because she doesn't want to expend a lot of > time or money maintaining them > > - > To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: > unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
