RE: wedding dress cleaning info; also padded hangers

[Mary Montgomery <Marym@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Apropos of cleaning wedding dresses (the inquiry from Kiersten Latham), is
anyone on the list familiar with the following fact sheet from the Ohio
State University Extension Service?  If so, how good is the information?
 
http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~ohioline/hyg-fact/5000/5545.html
<http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~ohioline/hyg-fact/5000/5545.html> 
 
And while I have everyone's attention, is there current common wisdom on the
making of padded hangers for garments?  I've heard that the internal hanger
must be wood, or shouldn't be, or plastic is fine if covered with inert
batting and muslin, or plastic is a no-no regardless.  Please advise.....
 
Many thanks,
Mary E. Montgomery
Associate Curator/Librarian
Museum of History & Industry, Seattle
(206) 324-1685 x38
marym@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:marym@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 

-----Original Message-----
From: Latham, Kiersten [mailto:kiersten.latham@xxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2000 1:28 PM
To: 'texcons@xxxxxxxxxxxx'
Subject: 



I do not belong to the list, but I really need some help and hope your
discussion list can provide some insight. I am doing research on the
drycleaning of wedding gowns (new and historical). This is a big trend with
the general public now and I am getting calls all the time asking for advice
about the subject. In doing research, I have run into some brick walls and I
need experienced conservators' opinions and information from anyone who has
done tests relating to this subject. Specifically, I am interested in
knowing whether any of the solvents used (perchlorethylene, petroleum, and
water-based) are ok for new dresses. If not, why not? Are there any solvents
that are ok to use? Often, "wedding gown specialists" claim to have an
anti-sugar stain treatment. No one could tell me what these are as they are
proprietary. Does anyone know what they are, how they work, and whether or
not they are ok to use on textiles? Has anyone ever heard of DuPont Clysar
plastic? Is it inert? One "wedding gown specialist" described encapsulating
the gown in Clysar, heating it to 300F in a heat shrink tunnel, then
punching holes and pulling the air and moisture out, replacing it with a
"clean, dry preserving gas." This doesn't sound good to me (but I am not a
conservator by training). Any thoughts?

Are there any broad rules about drycleaning I can pass on? (I realize
drycleaning is generally a big no-no, but it is difficult to tell all the
women getting married this summer that they cannot do any drycleaning at
all). If everyone is of the opinion that no gown should ever go to any
drycleaner, then what advice do I give to people who have stains on their
gowns prior to storage (and what about hidden stains)?

Thanks in advance for your help.You can email me answers at
kiersten.latham@xxxxxxxxxx 

Kiersten F. Latham 
Curator or Collections & Research 
Smoky Hill Museum 
Salina, KS 67401