How to Care for Old Lace

Decorating with old lace can be a great way to add a vintage style to new decor. However, much of the old lace you find may be yellowed or stained because of heavy usage or improper storage. Some lace is very delicate and needs careful hand washing while other pieces may have withstood the standard washing machine before. Following are a few suggestions for washing and caring for old lace without causing it damage.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Check the lace for damage. If there are tears or the netting is weak, you may want to repair the lace before washing it. Take care only to stitch in the spaces between threads.
2. Wash only sturdy pieces of lace in good condition that have been washed before without damage or shrinkage. Place the lace on top of a clean, light colored bed sheet that extends past the edges of the lace.
3. Use a light color thread to baste large stitches at 20 inch intervals down the middle of the sheet with lace overlay. Then stitch around the edges of the lace, being careful not to pierce any of the lace threads with the needle.
4. Fold the sheet with lace overlay in a zig zag pattern to put into the washing machine, and wash on a delicate cycle in cold water with a mild soap or nondetergent cleaner. You can use a soak cycle to remove a yellow or dingy color in the lace.
5. Hand wash delicate and smaller lace pieces in a tub or sink. Fill the tub with warm water and add 1 teaspoon of a nondetergent cleaner per 1 gallon of water. Let the lace sit for one hour without any movement.
6. Rinse with warm water until the water runs clear and drain the old water at the same time.
7. Handle wet lace with care. Lace is most vulnerable when it is wet and becomes very heavy, so support or hold the wet lace in a dry towel.
8. Shape the lace carefully onto a supporting object like an ironing board. You can pin smaller pieces to help the edges hold their shape and let air dry.
9. Store your clean lace in acid free tissue paper, plastic sleeves or storage boxes.

Tips & Warnings

• Place a towel in the sink or tub to support lace and prevent damage from the weight and gravity water can cause to the lace.
• If you are concerned about the condition or value of your lace, consider the service of a professional conservator.
• Consider using distilled water when washing old lace to avoid any chemicals and minerals in rain or tap water.
• Do not use bleaching liquids or lemon juice on old lace.
• Avoid detergents and dish washing detergents. They are harsh and will damage the lace.
• Wash any lotions off your own hands before caring for lace. Also remove any jewelry that may snag and damage delicate lace.
• Read and follow the instructions on any nondetergent cleaners designed for lace.
• Wet lace often appears to be grey or beige in color, but it will dry lighter.
• You may see residue or speck on the wash basin when rinsing lace. This is normal if the lace was starched, so repeat the rinse to minimize the residue on the lace.

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