Hope Chest Housekeeping - Cleanliness

Cleanliness. It goes without saying that any fabric item going into storage should be clean. Our hands contain oils and acids in the skin and by the time we are finished with a project, it is soiled. It may not look dirty and we may have been careful, but we still need to clean it. Over time, these acids and oils can stain or weaken the fibers of the fabric. Dust particles can abrade the fabric. Don't store any items in the hope chest that aren't completely clean. If you do press an item before storage, don't use starch or any other additive to the fabric. Silverfish thrive on starch and other pests may be attracted to the fragrance of laundry additives like fabric softener and dryer sheets.

As you begin a project for the hope chest, always begin with clean hands. Keep your surroundings clean also. Don't eat while you work and be careful of spilled drinks. Keeping the project clean from the beginning will help avoid stains and trouble with washing later.

If appropriate, wash your project by hand in running tepid water. You could use a small amount (pea-sized) of Dawn dish soap rubbed into the palm of your hand and then squeezed gently through the fabric. I also like a product called Eucalan, a no-rinse, delicate hand wash detergent. Gently wash the item, don't scrub or scrunch. Rinse, gently but thoroughly, swishing in tepid water until no suds are noticed. Squeeze the water out, but don't wring it. Place the item on a terry towel and roll it up. Squeeze again until most of the water is removed. Place the project flat to dry. Larger projects can be machine washed as normal, but separate from regularly soiled laundry. Don't add the usual softeners.

Conservators say not to iron textiles that go into storage, but I can't help myself. I want things to look nicely finished and ironing does that. However, use the coolest iron possible and don't iron in any creases. These creases will form naturally over time, but we certainly don't need to add them in!

Be cautious with the cleanliness of other items that might be added into the hope chest. Books and especially heirlooms that are a bit grimy can soil any items that are next to it. So take precautions to clean these items or wrap them before adding them into the collection.