Care For Your 19th Century Heirloom Linens

Many people have inherited linens made more than a hundred years ago. Others collect them, purchasing from antique shops, estate auctions, flea markets, or any place they can find good pieces. If these are not cared for and cleaned properly they can easily be destroyed. If it dates from the turn of the last century or before, it is likely to be fragile and in need of special care

If you are going to use or display linens in your home, you must be able to keep them clean with out weakening or destroying these heirloom pieces. In museums and historical homes fragile textiles are surface-cleaned annually.

Most authorities agree the recommended way to surface clean is with a vacuum cleaner, preferably one with reduced suction. If you have a mini crevice tool that can be attached to your vacuum, this is a good time to use it. Cover the nozzle with fine nylon net, a piece of tulle or fiberglass screen. This will prevent accidental removal of a loose thread.

Do not put linens away soiled. Dirt can damage fibers. Food and grease stains can attract insects or leave permanent stains. Often the antique textiles have been stained in previous years and the stains were not properly washed out. If you have ever put away baby clothes, then took them out several years later to discover yellow stains that you had not seen when you put them away, you will better understand how this happens. The items may have looked clean on the surface, but some part of the stain still remained in the fibers. If an item is badly stained you may need to have it cleaned by a professional, but there are many routes to try before resorting to paying for a professional.

Check each item for colorfastness. Use a few drops of water, or the mild cleaning solution you have prepared, in an out of the way spot. After the water has soaked in, blot carefully to see if any color is present. If there are several colors in the fabric, be sure to test each color.

Only plan on cleaning pieces if will not affect the color, shape and strength of the fabric. Rub the fabric between your fingers. If bits of fiber rub off on your fingers, it is not strong enough to be cleaned. If it does not shred it can probably be cleaned safely.

There are several methods that can be used. If the fabric is fragile, fold the material into a square or rectangle, small enough for you to be able to support the weight of when it is wet. Baste the layers together using a color that matches fairly well, or use white, cream, or beige thread, so there is no danger of the thread color bleeding onto the item.

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