I have a 60 year old Coverlet ( double bed size ) 16/2, 10/2 cotton. It has been stored in an archival box however there has been a piece that has camelids fiber in it that was stored in the same box. I have a guest coming , I would love to use the coverlet however she is allergic to camelids. How can I clean this coverlet? If I can't be sure all the camelid fibers are removed I of course will not use it. But I would still like to search out advice as to cleaning. I had thought about washing it by hand in the bath tub with orvis or synthapol then spinning in the dryer. However have no place to let it dry. Would dry cleaning ruin it? Thank you in advance, Cathie

Comments

Wed, 03/19/2014 - 12:37

endorph

Are you in Cincinnati? If so you might want to give the Taft Museum of art a call and see if thier conservator can give you some advice - at the least they may be able to direct you to a good source of information on how to go about cleaning the coverlet - I would hesitate on the dry cleaning since it tends to use harsh chemicals that may have an adverse effect on the piece. Here (at my museum) we would probably gently shake it out and then vacuum it using a screen and a low suction vacuum but that would not guarantee all of the camelid residue being removed.

Could you dry it over the shower curtain rod (assuming you have such a beast)?

Wed, 03/19/2014 - 12:42

jlread (not verified)

I agree with endorph on this subject....vacuum....

Wed, 03/19/2014 - 12:59

Artistry

What good ideeas , both of you! I will call the Taft and the Cincinnati Art Museum today. Vacuuming on a gentle speed with a screen sounds like the way to go, but will verify. Yes I do have shower curton rod,it is a beast:) it's rather short but would work. Then there's the ironing, hmmm........I don't think I'll chance it with my guest. But I want to use it in the guest room soon, my Great Aunt wove it:)

thanks

Cathie

Wed, 03/19/2014 - 19:34

Sara von Tresckow

Many decades ago, Yankee Magazine ran an article on washing old quilts and coverlets.

Can't remember about the soap/detergent, but they had you fold it down to fit in the bathtub in a nice rectangle and keep that rectangle throughout the process.

NO SPINNING - you then let that rectangle drain thoroughly after the last rinse and put is flat on top of an apartment style drying rack. When partially dry and no longer dripping, you opened ONE fold. Some time later, dryer still, you opened another fold until the object was nearly dry and hanging folded over a wash line.

This is a very gentle way to wash older textiles that cannot support their own weight when dripping wet.

Wed, 03/19/2014 - 20:36

pammersw

Supporting the wet item on a folded sheet put in the tub first is a good idea also. Squeeze out as much water as possible after rinsing,  by pressing down on the item. Lift by the sheet, not the coverlet. 

Orvus soap is good for old textiles.  You can find it in quilt shops (expensive) or feed stores (not expensive,  and the container is larger). For washing something in the tub, you probably only need to dip your finger in, then rinse off what sticks to it, as you fill the tub. Orvus is low sudsing and rinses out well, and is also used on horses. A tiny amount of Johnsons Baby Shampoo could also be used.

Wed, 03/19/2014 - 21:58

Artistry

Sara 

Thank you for your advice. Yes, that does sound like a very gentle method and I think Ill try it out. As this coverlet is large, it will be quite heavy when it is wet.  I'm still waiting on a call back from the local museum too. I'll post what they say, curious minds want to know!

Pammersw,

Thank you too! I'm a devotee of Orvis, I wash everything handwoven in it, it's fabulous! As you say they use it to shampoo horses, I get mine at a tack shop, huge tub! I never thought to use a sheet for lifting purposes. As I mentioned to Sara the coverlet will be heavy, so I may use your sheet idea, to lift to the dryers rack. Then put the sheet aside as the coverlet is drying and being unfolded. Thanks for answering and for your ideas:)

Cathie

Thu, 03/20/2014 - 05:09

pammersw

Just leave the sheet in place as it dries, there will be no harm. Old quilts are washed that way.

Thu, 03/20/2014 - 09:22

ReedGuy

Now you see why a nice extra 'large' drying rack comes in handy. If it were me, that coverlet would get washed and then dried outside in a stiff SW wind of summer. Slow drying causes more stiffness. That warm wind will dry anything in 20 minutes and the cloth will be more supple. :)

I think it's wonderful that your taking care of that piece.

Thu, 03/20/2014 - 10:29

Artistry

ReedGuy Oh if only I had YOUR drying rack! You also paint a pretty scene and smell of summertime. You're probably right about the slow drying but I think once I iron it the suppleness will return. I'm not looking forward to ironing the coverlet because I think the " nose" of the iron could snag threads. I think ironing will be more like lift and press, lift and press, no ironing back and forth.
Thu, 03/20/2014 - 10:45

ReedGuy

The rate it's snowing and the cold not easing up, we might see summer by July. :)

It's now nearing the end of the 3rd week of March and the maple sap is still frozen solid. :/

Thu, 03/20/2014 - 11:48

endorph

I would definitely "press" as opposed to iron on the coverlet and I would alos use a pressing sheet of somekind to protect against snags

Thu, 03/20/2014 - 12:50

Artistry

Forgot about the pressing cloth, thanks Tina!!!!!!! ReedGuy, it better ease up there , I absolutely can't have maple syrup withdrawal :)
Thu, 03/20/2014 - 14:23

MK Custom

Before washing, be sure to check for color-fastness.  Place a few drops of distilled water on an inconspicuous location, then blot with soft, white cloth.  If there is any color transfer, don't wash!

Thu, 03/20/2014 - 21:45

Artistry

Thanks MK Custom for bringing up colorfastness, yes, that I know it is. Cathie
Thu, 03/20/2014 - 21:45

Artistry

Thanks MK Custom for bringing up colorfastness, yes, that I know it is. Cathie