With these conditions, excessive drying is avoided and mold and mildew growth caused by excess moisture are discouraged.ĥ. Air conditioning in which the temperature is in the 65-70☏ (18-21☌) range and the relative humidity is between 40% and 50% is ideal for textile storage. Stored textiles should not be exposed to the 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's and indoor fixtures' light rays.Ĥ. Painted textiles should not be rolled or folded such treatment can cause the painted surface to crack.ģ. As the roller glides along, it picks up the cloth as it moves away from the individual(s) doing the rolling. The cloth should rest flat and smooth on the table. Rolling too tight could also be harmful proper tension can be maintained if rolling is done on a table or other flat surface that is at least as wide as the cloth and that has been cleared for this purpose. The greatest care must be taken to avoid creasing the fabric in the process of rolling it because creases can split fragile cloth as cleanly as a knife can. Storing them at the bottom of a drawer under heavy items can cause sharp folds, which may be difficult to remove and which may cause splits in the cloth.įragile fabrics (which may be light or heavy in weight), likely to wear thin along folds, should be rolled over cloth-covered cardboard tubes (mailing tubes are good even paper towel tubes can be used for small items). The best place to store antique fabrics is on top in a drawer. After wrapping the textiles in cotton muslin or sheeting, they can be loosely encased in an unsealed plastic wrapping. Also, because some plastics give off fumes as they decompose with age, they should not come in direct contact with antique textiles. Because textile fibers need to be in an environment where there is some air movement, fabrics should not be sealed in air-tight plastic bags or containers to prevent damage from moisture condensation. Instead, textiles can be wrapped in clean, white cotton cloth, such as an old sheet or pillowcase, or in muslin. Most paper tends to be acidic acid is especially damaging to textiles. If folding is necessary, avoid sharp folds by padding at the points of folds with strips of washed unbleached muslin or old sheets.įor maximum preservation, antique textiles, especially cottons and linens, should have no direct contact with wood, blue tissue, regular tissue, or other wrapping paper. It is preferable to store textiles flat, subject to minimum abrasion, folding, and pressure. CAUTION: Textiles, such as samplers, painted and embroidered pictures, and beaded work should not be vacuumed, as embroidery yarns and beads can be drawn through the screening.Ģ.Loose soil and dust can be removed by placing the textile on a flat surface, placing a piece of fiberglass screening between the textile and vacuum cleaner head, and then vacuuming with a weak-suction hand vacuum cleaner. (Information on wet cleaning cottons and linens, quilts and coverlets, and samplers is available upon written request.)Īn item that cannot be cleaned in any other way should, if possible, be vacuumed. Colorfast and washable items should be washed and stored unironed, unstarched and unblued. Textiles should be stored as clean as possible because dust particles can actually cut fibers through friction and abrasion. It is also best to set aside one drawer or chest of drawers just for the storage of family heirlooms.
#VINTAGE TEXTILES FOR SALE FREE#
The storage area should be clean, cool, dry, dark, and as free as possible from drastic changes in temperature and humidity, thus ruling out the basement or attic. Under Secretary for Science and Research.Under Secretary for Museums and Culture.Assistant Secretary for Communications and External Affairs.Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, African Art.