Test cleaning before washing embroidery

Choose cleaning from the least tolerant component, including ground, thread, markings and embellishments. Valuable or fragile historical work needs a conservator’s assessment rather than a home-wash experiment.

Before you start

Keep an offcut or finished sample containing every material and color used in the project. Read the care instructions for all components before testing a treatment.

Try this example

Clean a complete material sample using only treatments allowed for every component. Dry with support, then compare dimensions, color transfer and texture with the untreated control.

Check your result

• Let the sample dry fully and return to room conditions before comparing shape, color and surface. Record the actual treatment so it can be repeated.
• A successful small test reduces uncertainty but does not guarantee an identical result on old, damaged or mixed-material work.

Sources

• www.canada.ca: textiles costumes.html
• egausa.org: how to fix common embroidery mistakes

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