Archive
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Caring for Rare and Valuable Books
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Cleaning Antique Furniture: Dust Cementation
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Antique Furniture and Central Heating
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Looking after Decorative Ceramics
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Storing Vintage Clothing
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Caring for Silver: Do's and Don'ts
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Westminster Review Article
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Interview with David Lilly: Founder of Simply Stained Glass
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Antique Tortoiseshell, Ivory, Bone & Mother of Pearl: Cleaning and Storing
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Maintaining & Displaying Tapestries and Wall Hangings
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Helping to care for the Werhner Collection (The Magnificent Decorative Art Collection of Julius Werhner - founding member of the De Beers's Diamond Company)
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Conservation Cleaning at Down House; the Historic Home of Charles Darwin
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Helping to clean Eltham Palace: One of London's Greatest Architectural Treasures
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Why Humidity is so important to Antique Furniture
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Cleaning & Protecting an Original London Underground Sign
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The Hobbit & Caring for Rare Books revived....
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Cleaning a Collection of Marble Busts
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Chandelier Cleaning
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Decorative Plasterwork: Dust, Dirt & Stain Removal
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Training Museum Volunteers
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Helping to care for Kenwood House
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Cleaning a Marble Statue of Dr Hunter
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Cleaning the Great Halls at Audley End & Eltham Palace
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Royal Academy of Music - Picture Frame Cleaning
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Preparing Dog Collars for Exhibition at Leeds Castle
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Eltham Palace - Re-opening
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Inner Temple Library
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The House of St Barnabas, Soho
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Cleaning Alabaster - Eton College Chapel
Blog & Projects
Storing Vintage Clothing
London Fashion Week is upon us, and over the coming days we will surely be wowed by the cutting-edge clothes on our capital's catwalks. This week is naturally about what's new in fashion; however, vintage clothing is also a passion for many people, and the desirability and collectability of vintage clothes has grown steadily over recent years.
Just like other fragile and delicate objects, clothing will deteriorate if not cared for properly, so below are a few tips on keeping vintage garments in good condition.
• Unfortunately, wearing clothing wears clothes out; so if you wish to enjoy dressing up in your vintage clothes, do so only occasionally.
• Before storing, ensure pieces are clean. Dry cleaning is good, but it is always advisable to consult a textile expert to make sure it is suitable for the particular garment. This is extremely important if a piece is fragile or antique. If you are not sure about how to clean a garment, always seek expert help.
• Avoid using hangers to store clothing as these will stretch, damage and distort the fabric. If you must hang an item, only use padded hangers.
• Never store garments in damp or hot environments, as moisture and heat will both cause damage. Also always keep garments away from sunlight as it fades and weakens fabric.
• The best way to store an item is in a museum grade textile box lined with acid free tissue. If you need to fold the piece, use acid free tissue between the folds and make a cylindrical cushion from the tissue to prevent the fold creasing the fabric.
• Placing museum grade silica gel packets inside the storage box will help prevent moisture and pests, and museum approved pest deterrents are also advisable. Store the box somewhere cool and dark.
• Once stored, check your garment box at least once a month to ensure the internal conditions are stable.
• If you are unsure about how to store an item, always seek professional advise.
Follow this link to read an article about how the V&A's Textile Conservation Studio cleaned a very rare Christian Dior vintage costume.