Washing antique lace?

[FriedaFauve]

Hollu!
I recently acquired a few pieces of antique lace (lappets and so forth), but they're a bit yellowed with age.  What would be the best method of washing them?  What soap should I use, and should I use bleach?
-Frieda

[mr.darcy1]

I have had great success with Biz on antique lace: http://www.bizstainfighter.com/products

I used it on an original bonnet veil I won on eBay for my wedding trousseau.  It was yellowed and smelled of cigarettes, but after about 5 soakings it looked (and smelled) lovely. I would recommend getting a large enough tub so that the lace has plenty of room to spread out. Add warm/lukewarm water, sprinkle in some of the powder, agitate the water with your hands, and then place the lace in the water for a good soak with.  DO NOT SCRUB IT. Rinse out the lace with cool water and see where you are at.  It may take multiple soakings.  If you have a safe sunny spot, I would lay the lace down on a towel to aid with the natural bleaching from the sun.

Good luck,

Chandra

[FriedaFauve]

Thank you!  I'll try it.

[Hannah G.]

If it's silk lace, DON't bleach it!  Bleach dissolves silk and other protein fibers:)

[Lori D]

I've used this many many times with excellent results. Just soak it in the sun for a day or two, rinse out and it looks like new again! And I've never had it cause it any damage either.

http://www.retroclean.com/

[Marta Vincent]

Don't bleach it PERIOD!  Bleach will deteriorate fibers of all kinds.

 Also, I have had lace that looked very nice that basically dissolved in a cool water and mild soap solution.  Most lace was starched, so sometimes it seems that the starch may be all that is holding it together.    You probably should also starch the piece again with StaFlo medium solution after washing. 

[Eileen Hook]

I've had good luck washing tatted cotton lace in dish soap in warm water with a squirt of lemon juice to wash the lace, then rinse well with warm water and put out in the sun on a clean towel until dry. Bleach is way too harsh!