Proper care and storage of heirloom items, such as wedding gowns and christening gowns, can help you to minimize the chances of loss or damage while the items are stored. Taking precautions when having your special items cleaned or stored is necessary, but having them professionally cleaned and stored may not be.
If you want to store an heirloom item yourself, then there are a few things that you should know. You can use cotton sheets to line the box that you are storing in. The box itself must be “acid free”. Look for photo storage or scrapbooking materials that say “acid free” on the label. If you are storing a large item, such as a wedding dress, you may have to order a special box online. The box should have plenty of room so that you don’t have to crease or tightly pack the garment. Creases can become permanent over time.
You can also use acid free tissue paper to line the box, but make sure you get white. Colors can bleed over time. Cotton sheets, as well as the fabrics of the garment, can create their own acids over time. This is why you should take your garment out about once a year and clean it, as well as replace or clean the liners. Acid can damage fabrics and cause them to deteriorate.
Store your heirloomed item in a cool, dry place. Don’t store items, especially rayon, in anything near cedar. Cedar can produce acids that can build up in fabrics over time and cause damage to them. Cedar is great for storing most items for less than one year. You want to choose a place like a closet near the interior of the house so that there is air circulation, but no extreme temperature changes, light, or moisture.
Before storing an item, you should have it properly cleaned. If you know that you are going to heirloom an item beforehand, you can choose one that is made from materials that can be properly cleaned. Glue oxidizes, changes color, and is often damaged in cleaning or storage. Lace almost always has sizing present, which can oxidize and turn yellow as well. Some laces are dyed to give a “natural” or “off white” color. This dye can turn white during dry cleaning. Sequins, beads, fake pearls, and other decoration can melt, peel, dissolve, turn dull, or lose color even when professionally cleaned. Avoid these problems by choosing items to be heirloomed, wisely.
About the Author: Sam Morton is on the staff of USA Hanger, a leading online resource for wood hangers, coat hangers and all types of clothes hangers. They are known for the excellent quality and value of their hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.usahanger.com/.
