Heirlooms – Part 3 - Storage    

Before you store your piece make sure it is clean, non-ironed and as stain free as possible.  Never store textiles in plastic bags or on wire hangers. Plastic emits harmful chemicals and the textiles can’t breathe!  Mildew will inevitably occur when excess heat and moisture build in the plastic bag.  Mildew is very difficult if not impossible to remove. Hanging items creates too much stress on fibers and the wire hanger may rust and permanently stain your piece.

Folding
If it is necessary to fold your heirloom avoid sharp creases by padding folds with washed unbleached muslin, old sheets, or acid free tissue.  Doilies and smaller linens can be rolled onto cardboard tubes that have been wrapped in several layers of acid-free tissue, old sheets or muslin. Each time you remove your heirloom from storage fold it a different way to alternate the folds and minimize creasing.  

Acid Free Supplies
There are special boxes, tissue paper and supplies for storing your heirloom garments, doilies, quilts, etc.  Finding the right archival quality supplies will take some research.  The safest choice for tissue paper that will come into direct contact with your heirloom is Acid Free, Lignin Free, Non Buffered tissue with a neutral pH.  It is important for you to understand what each one of these archival qualities mean.  There are several sources to find the correct supplies and additional information - scrap booking stores, archival and conservation supply companies, online or museums. 

Supplies Around the House
One of the easiest ways to store your treasures would be to wrap them in clean, un-dyed, un-bleached muslin or pure cotton sheets.  Old sheets are readily available at second-hand, thrift stores and resale shops.  Make sure they are pure cotton by checking the label and wash them first to remove bleach or soil. 

Packing
Use enough tissue paper or cotton sheeting to cushion the garment. To avoid creases that can lead to the deterioration of the fibers, gently stuff some of the tissue into the sleeves and bodice.  If you must fold your piece, use tissue paper or sheeting to support folds. If there are several pieces to a set such as a gown, bonnet, slip, etc, wrap them individually before you put them together in storage.  Choose a storage area or box that is larger than your items to allow plenty of room for circulation. 

Continued in Heirlooms Part 4.