How to Care for a Vintage Lace Crochet

Antique crochet is delicate but can handle light use.

Antique lace crochet is delicate, but that does not mean it should remain in a box or a drawer. It should be displayed and enjoyed. Whether it has been in use or stored away, vintage lace needs to be cleaned periodically. Fortunately, all that is needed are common household products, patience and a gentle touch. After cleaning, store your crochet using acid-free products. With a little bit of care, your lace crochet will last for many years to come.

Things You'll Need

• Sink, bucket or tubs
• Water
• Measuring cup
• White vinegar
• Mild laundry soap
• Several large, soft towels
• Pins
• Large flat workspace
• White acid-free tissue paper
• Acid-free storage boxes

Instructions

Cleaning Vintage Lace Crochet

1. 

   White vinegar will help release stains from lace and crochet.

   Pre-soak your lace if is browned or yellowed by mixing a solution of one-quarter cup of white vinegar to two gallons of warm water. Soak for several hours. Replace the vinegar solution if it turns yellow.

2. 

   Use a bucket and a sink to make the cleaning process quicker.

   Fill another container or sink with cool water. Gently place the lace in the water to rinse. Remove the lace from the rinse water.

3. Fill a sink or large soaking container with warm water. Add mild laundry soap, such as Woolite, Biz or Dreft. Consult the product's instructions for the proper amount of soap.

4. 

   Soak crochet in sudsy water for up to an hour.

   Soak the crochet in the soap solution. Gently squeeze the suds into the crochet. Do not wring or twirl the crochet as this could damage the delicate fibers. You may soak more than one piece at a time as long as they have room to soak and do not become tangled.

5. Replace the sudsy water if it turns yellow or dirty. Continue to replace the sudsy water and soak until the crochet is clean.

6. 

   Gently squeeze the crochet during rinsing to release the soap in it.

   Remove the crochet from the soaking solution. Discard the water. Refill the sink or container with cool water. Place the crochet in the water to rinse. Gently squeeze the crochet to release the soap. Replace dirty rinse water with clean rinse water. Continue to rinse the crochet and discard the rinse water until the water is clear.

7. 

   Have several towels handy if you have many pieces to dry.

   Open a large, soft towel. Place the rinsed crochet on the towel. Roll up the towel and squeeze gently to remove excess water from the crochet. Unroll the towel.

8. Open another large soft towel on a flat surface. Place the crochet on the towel. Reshape the crochet, using pins if necessary to hold the shape. Allow the crochet to dry completely.

Storing Vintage Lace Crochet

1. Layer two sheets of white acid-free tissue paper. Place the crochet flat on the tissue paper. If your crochet is heavy, add more layers of tissue paper.

2. Wrap tissue paper around the crochet loosely. If the crochet is long, place a layer or two of tissue paper on top of the crochet and wrap. Long pieces of crochet also can be rolled up like a jelly roll.

3. 

   Label which crochet is inside the box to avoid unwrapping it.

   Place the wrapped crochet flat in an acid-free box for storage.

Tips & Warnings

• Support wet lace as you move it. Fibers are weakest when they are wet.

• Light stains can be removed using lemon juice and sunlight. Place a small amount of lemon juice on the stain, lay the crochet in the sun until dry, then wash.

• Unwrap the stored crochet occasionally to air it out.

• Do not use bleach or detergents to clean the crochet.

• Do not wash the crochet in a washing machine.

• Do not dry the crochet in a dryer.

• Do not hang the crochet to dry. Hanging may stretch or break the threads.

• Do not use colored tissue paper as the color could transfer onto the crochet.

• Do not store the crochet in plastic bags. Plastic bags prevent the crochet from getting air and may make it turn yellow.

References

• Cate's Linens: How to Clean Crochet
• How to Clean Stuff: How to Clean Antique Lace
• Old Fashioned Living: Restoration of Antique Linens
• Free Patterns: Laundering Crochet Pieces

Resources

• Material Pleasures: Washing Old Lace
• The Gavel: Antique Lace - Use It or Lose It
• Texas Antique Mall: How to Care for Antique Linen