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  • 1.  T-shirt care

    Posted 29 days ago
    Hello,

    We have some t-shirts from the 1970s and 1980s. What are your thoughts on handwashing washing? They are in good condition through a little faded.

    Thanks,
    Meghan

    Meghan Bailey
    Associate University Archivist for Collection Management
    University Archives & Special Collections
    Joseph P. Healey Library
    University of Massachusetts Boston



  • 2.  RE: T-shirt care

    Posted 28 days ago

    My thoughts on wet cleaning an historic textile is that it is irreversible and that it can be a very tricky endeavor. Are there stains that are distracting from the image or does it just appear "grubby." If it is the latter, it might be best to give the t-shirt a light surface cleaning with a vacuum on low suction and display as-is or store in acid-free tissue/box. If it is the former, I suggest you consult a Textile Conservator to help you navigate next steps. Even though they are t-shirts, which seem like they should be easy to wash, their age, past life, manufacturing process and materials, not to mention the type of stain, will all have an effect on how the textile will behave during treatment. 

    You can find someone in your area via AIC's  "Find a Conservator":  Find a Conservator



    ------------------------------
    Beth Szuhay
    Head of Textile Conservation

    Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco 
    de Young \ Legion of Honor

    50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive
    San Francisco, CA 94118

    415 750 7611
    bszuhay@famsf.org
    www.famsf.org
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: T-shirt care

    Posted 23 days ago

    We sponge bath jerseys if they have a body salt odor with distilled water and orvus. If the body odor is not removed, staining can appear in the future. Also, odors can be harmful to other objects in the collection. We devised this process in consultation with a Textile Conservator. Low amounts orvus will remove odors but stains from use will remain. We never try to remove stains that were created by use. We only remove stains or dirt if they were from the result of poor storage by the donor.

     

    All the best,



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