How to Care for Antique Lace

Air the lace out about every six months to keep it fresh.

Antique lace tends to be found on antique linens such as towels or tablecloths, on clothing or by itself as an intricate piece of lace work. Caring for antique lace is not too difficult, requiring both smart storage and cleaning of the lace piece. The most important things to know are what not to do with antique lace so as to prevent damage. With proper cleaning and storage techniques, antique lace in any form will last for years.

Things You'll Need

• Antique lace
• Non-chlorine bleach
• Shallow bucket
• Hand towel
• Large towel
• Glass drinking glasses
• Unbleached muslin
• Box

Instructions

Cleaning

1. Fill a shallow bucket with 2 teaspoons of non-chlorine bleach and warm water. Stir slightly to fully mix the bleach.

2. Place the piece in the bucket with the lace on top.

3. Soak for one hour.

4. Remove the lace piece from the bucket and place it in a clean sink. Turn water on so that it is directly hitting the lace, thereby rinsing it out.

5. Continue rinsing until the water is clear. The rinsing process can take anywhere from 15 to 60 minutes depending on the size of the lace.

6. Dry antique lace by wrapping the lace piece inside a dry towel to support it. The lace may tear or stretch if left to dry without support.

7. Spread the towel and the lace onto a flat surface and hold the edges of the lace down with sturdy glasses. The weight will keep the lace from curling as it dries. Once the lace piece is dry, you can store it again.

Storage

1. Wrap the lace in unbleached muslin. You can also use acid-free tissue paper but muslin is best.

2. Place the wrapped lace in a box.

3. Store in a place where it won’t be damaged by rodents, insects or water. An attic or basement is a poor storage facility since it is susceptible to these problems.

Tips & Warnings

• Air the lace out about every six months to keep it fresh. If you fold the lace to store it, refold in a different direction to keep from weakening the threads.

• Don’t machine wash antique lace. The washing machine will damage the lace. Also, home remedies such as lemon juice or salt to clean the lace are only temporary fixes and can cause damage or stains over long-term storage.

References

• Guide to Lace and Linens; Elizabeth M. Kurella
• The Linen Closet: How to Care for Your Fine Linens and Lace; Michele Durkson Clise