Washing Techniques Used at the Textile Museum

Today, before any method of cleaning is determined, the examination of the textile specimen is made for fiber content; structure; dyes; surface decorations, that is, surface-applied pigment; gold or silver embroidery. Of the many hazardous conditions encountered is some gold yarn formed by the application of metal leaf on a paper or sinew ground which has been wrapped around a silk or occasionally a cotton core. This type of yarn should not be wet with water and can easily be damaged by mechanical abrasion. There are several different methods of