Antique fabric aged to brown
06-13-2010, 09:39 AM
#1
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Location: Texas currently
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I found my baby dress. I guess it's antique now, since it is about 62 years old. It has not been stored properly and has turned a horrible brown with aging and probably some airborne contaminants. The worst of the brown came out with soaking in Woolite 3 times, then using Simple Green and soaking again with Dawn in the water. I really would like to get out most of the rest of the brown, (really dark near cuffs and collar) but don't want to add any bleach to the water, as there is some really delicate pink hand embroidery on the collar and down the front of the dress. Anybody have any ideas? The fabric is very fine, very thin, cotton I'm sure. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
06-13-2010, 11:11 AM
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06-13-2010, 11:14 AM
#6
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Originally Posted by sueisallaboutquilts
06-13-2010, 01:07 PM
#7
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Location: Tulsa, OK
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I use a fresh lemon, cut in half. Squeeze the juice on the stains and rub in with the lemon, then set in the sunlight for a couple of hours. For some reason, this does not work nearly as well with bottled lemon juice. Then rinse and wash. It won't harm the colors, though you do need to be careful about them fading in bright sunlight.
06-13-2010, 02:26 PM
#9
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Location: Mapleton, Oregon
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Martha Pullin uses fabric safe bleach, not clorox type. She soaks it for 24 hrs. changes the water soaks it another 24, changes water and soaks it again if it needs it. She has all those beautiful lace antique garments.
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