How to Clean Vintage Christmas Ornaments & Store Them Safely

Have you ever stumbled along a real treasure at a garage sale?
That box of Christmas ornaments that is being tossed out because they are old?
Try to contain your giddiness until you get to the car to start your giggling.
There are definite do's and don'ts when salvaging a vintage Christmas ornament.
With a little help you can have them shiny and looking beautiful in no time.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Feather duster
• Soft dry cloth
• Covered box for storage

1. 
    
   Shiny Brite Ornament With Mica.

   Know your ornament.
   If there is a dull looking white raised design on it then it probably is Mica.
   Mica is water soluble and will smear and eventually disappear if washed or rubbed.

2. 
    
   These were green, blue, gold and red before I washed the water soluble paint off.

   Most older ornaments were silvered or had mercury on the inside but were painted with a water soluble paint on the outside.
   If you have candy cane or dust on your decoration it is best to carefully remove the candy with a dry, soft, fuzz free cloth and then dust it lightly with a feather duster.
   Do not use water or cleaners under any circumstances or you will end up with a clear ornament that was once red or what ever color it was before you washed it.

3. After cleaning you can keep them clean by storing them in a box with a lid. The original box is ideal of course and raises the value substantially but the vital part is the lid. That will keep dust and oils off of them. Wrap them in tissue paper and store in the covered box. Keep them stored in a room that is dry and is moderate in temperature.

4. Store the box in a plastic storage container with a lid. You can get these at most department stores, home improvement stores or closet organizing stores. Storing it in a container minimizes the possibility that a heavy itm may be sat on top of the box.