How can I wash a 30 year old wool christening gown safely?

November_girl

Hi everyone,
I am due my first baby in a few months and hope to use my old christening gown for my baby. It is 30 years old and knitted wool, and it has yellowed with age. I have washed it twice with cold water and baby shampoo after steeping in white vinegar and cold water. This has faded the yellowing quite well. However there is an old vomit stain (sorry but that what it is!) that is proving more stubborn, any advice to safely wash this without making matters worse?

pigpen

A soak in bio liquid or a bit of vanish should be fine.. lay it flat in the sunshine once washed which should help fade any stains too.

TBH, I'd put it in a pillowcase or net washing bag and put in the WM on a wool cycle, pull back into shape and dry flat

FairyPrincessk

a soak in some diluted vanish might help as well---I'd start with not much vanish--say a teaspoon in a sink full of water and soak for ten minutes then check on it, increase the time and amount of vanish as needed.

[Deleted User]

to felt wool, you need change in temperature and agitation so absolutely no machine wash, unless you want to ruin it. I would agree with the sunshine as it fades lots of stains. Lemon juice in water will do it then followed by sun. Strength is 1:10

Squeeze gently in warm lemon solution, roll in a towel to absorb excess and lay flat in the sun outside

pigpen

kittie wrote: »

to felt wool, you need change in temperature and agitation so absolutely no machine wash, unless you want to ruin it. I would agree with the sunshine as it fades lots of stains. Lemon juice in water will do it then followed by sun. Strength is 1:10

Squeeze gently in warm lemon solution, roll in a towel to absorb excess and lay flat in the sun outside

You don't get the change in water temp or agitation with a wool cycle.. that is why they have it! Mine washes at 20'C and the drum rocks to move the water but no rotating and definitely no spin.

I use it for my dry clean only stuff and 100% wool things inc. the 25y/o lacy hand knitted baptism shawl.. and never had a problem.

[Deleted User]

pigpen wrote: »

You don't get the change in water temp or agitation with a wool cycle.. that is why they have it! Mine washes at 20'C and the drum rocks to move the water but no rotating and definitely no spin.

I use it for my dry clean only stuff and 100% wool things inc. the 25y/o lacy hand knitted baptism shawl.. and never had a problem.

of course you get agitation in any washing machine programme, the very process of (even gently) going back and forth is agitation. I handle wool fibres ie all sorts of wool fleece from its raw state and believe me I only soak and gently lift in a net bag, then rinse at the same temperature. By all means op do as pigpen says but be prepared to ruin your garment, you won`t get another chance when ruined. I have a meile with a wool wash programme and would not dream of using that on pure wool that has not undergone the superwash process. Even just a spin that goes one way just once and then spins the other way is too much of a risk

Do the dilute lemon soak and roll in a towel then sun and you won`t go wrong

easy

November_girl wrote: »

Hi everyone,
I am due my first baby in a few months and hope to use my old christening gown for my baby. It is 30 years old and knitted wool, and it has yellowed with age. I have washed it twice with cold water and baby shampoo after steeping in white vinegar and cold water. This has faded the yellowing quite well. However there is an old vomit stain (sorry but that what it is!) that is proving more stubborn, any advice to safely wash this without making matters worse?

kittie wrote: »

of course you get agitation in any washing machine programme, the very process of (even gently) going back and forth is agitation. I handle wool fibres ie all sorts of wool fleece from its raw state and believe me I only soak and gently lift in a net bag, then rinse at the same temperature. By all means op do as pigpen says but be prepared to ruin your garment, you won`t get another chance when ruined. I have a meile with a wool wash programme and would not dream of using that on pure wool that has not undergone the superwash process. Even just a spin that goes one way just once and then spins the other way is too much of a risk

Do the dilute lemon soak and roll in a towel then sun and you won`t go wrong

Given that she's already washed it twice and soaked in Vinegar, I can't see that a bit of lemon juice is going to make any difference.
Anyway, November-girl, you could try it, it won't do any harm I suppose (altho I wouldn't like to repeatedly soak wool).

If kitty's suggestion doesn't work ..., then I would second the idea that the vomit stain needs a biological detergent - altho if it's been in the fibres for 30 years, it's doubtful that anything will completely shift it.
Given that you have nothing to lose (I guess you won't want to use the gown if it doesn't come clean) I would dilute some biological liquid detergent in warm water, and gently apply that to the stained area. GENTLY rub the area to get the detergent into the fibres and give it five minutes to work, then put it into the pillowcase and into the washing machine on a wool wash (you can do this bit in the sink if you would rather, I personally think you'll get a far better result in the washer. I've been looking after my families clothes for 30 years, wool, silk, satin etc - haven't lost a patient yet)

As everyone says, get out as much water as you can without wringing (second the idea of wrapping in a towel and squeezing - I roll in a towel then put it on the floor and walk up and down on it).
then dry in the sun.

Best of luck with it.

pigpen

kittie wrote: »

of course you get agitation in any washing machine programme, the very process of (even gently) going back and forth is agitation. I handle wool fibres ie all sorts of wool fleece from its raw state and believe me I only soak and gently lift in a net bag, then rinse at the same temperature. By all means op do as pigpen says but be prepared to ruin your garment, you won`t get another chance when ruined. I have a meile with a wool wash programme and would not dream of using that on pure wool that has not undergone the superwash process. Even just a spin that goes one way just once and then spins the other way is too much of a risk

Do the dilute lemon soak and roll in a towel then sun and you won`t go wrong

If it survived a handwash.. by hand.. with kneading and squeezing and wringing, however gently.. it will survive a wool wash.. that is what it is there for!!!! It will survive a bit of rocking tied up tight in a bag in the washer.. TBH I have found it is the newer garments which are wool which are a pile of rubbish and pill and felt and shrink beyond all recognition..

Our shawl comes up beautiful every time.. knitted in white 2ply 100% wool 25 years ago by my gran.. I got it for DS1's baptism and it has been used for all of them and washed before and after each one.. the only issue we had was when a stupid relative caught it on their bracelet and snapped a thread.. thankfully I was able to repair that!

OP.. how did it get washed after you wore it??? obviously it survived that.. please don't tell me it was shoved in the twintub.. I might cry!

meritaten

I would say a bio washing powder or liquid. and a good long soak (overnight?) then much rinsing and a gentle squeeze of excess moisture and dry on a flat surface.

Drachenfach

Hydrogen peroxide (hair colouring bleach) can be used on wool, but I would try that out on something less precious first!

If you have no luck with removing the stain, perhps you could make or buy a couple of crochet appliques to cover the mark. Little roses or flowers in a contrasting colour could look pretty on an otherwise pure white gown.