Grandma's recommendations

Washing

1. It is advisable to wash the linen in water: washing in water renders the fabric softer and gives it a brighter more brilliant aspect to the characteristics of the fibres.
2. Use neautral soaps or detergents (without optical brighteners), in commercial detergents (apart from those that are neutral) there are small brightening substances (optical) which bleach the garments, and so make the fabrics whiter as they are deposited in the base colours altering the tone and at times the colour.
3. We advise that before immerging the fabric, you dissolve the powder detergent in water (do not pour the soap directly on the garment).
4. Perform the first washes of coloured garments in water at a low temperature and for the articles with dark colours wash them seperately from the others at first.
5. Take action on stains as soon as possible, when they are still fresh in order to prevent the colour of the stain from setting on the fabric. We advise using stain removal products on the reverse side of the garment, testing it first on a hidden part of the artefact.
6. Where permitted use chlorine based products (bleach), the wash must be done in cold water, and followed by a vigorous rinsing. It is preferable to use perborate based products (oxygenated water).
7. We advise against using products which are specifically intended and recommended for wool. The softeners these products contain tend to inflate the threads, and causes fraying and consequently a reduction in resistence.

• Do NOT fill the cylinder of the washing machine too much
• Do NOT put folded garments into the cylinder
• Enclose artefacts with fringes or tassles (fine fabrics) in a cotton sack or pillowcase before placing it in the washing machine and spin gently
• Dopo il lavaggio strizzare i capi o centrifugarli delicatamente
• placing it in the washing machine and spin gently

Ironing

1. Iron the fabric while it is still damp with a very hot steam iron. The temperature should be selected with regards to the weight of the fabric and its care label.
2. Before starting to iron test the iron on a hidden area of the fabric.
3. Iron on the reverse side and afterwards also on the front if necessary.
4. The garments which have tinsel present (metallic threads) should be ironed at low temperatures and through a cloth.

Treatment of stains

ALCOHOLIC DRINKS (apart from wine): Dab the liquid with an absorbent cloth. Then use a sponge with equal parts of hot water and alcohol.
SUGARED OR FIZZY DRINKS: Rinse in warm water and apply 90° alcohol to the residue.
CACAO, CHOCOLATE: Apply very hot water.
COFFEE, TEA: Place the garment to soak in soapy water and  leave for at least 12 hours or wash with warm water and add ammonia.
WAX: Eliminate as much as possible of the wax by scraping it with blunt knife or spoon, then place the fabric between two layers of blotting paper and iron with a hot iron, repeat the operation until the stain disappears. Do not wash.
GRASS: Dab gently with a cloth soaked in alcohol and ammonia and then wash, or immerge the stain in unpasteurised milk and rub...
FRUIT: Dab the stain with salt and white vinegar or with salt and lemon juice and then immediately rinse well.
ICE-CREAM: Wash with cold water and detergent.
FATS, SAUCES AND FOUNDATION: First remove, with a spoon or a blunt knife, the solid part of the stain, then treat with trichlorethylene, sprinkling talcum powder in order to avoid streaks. Subsequently brush carefully and wash.
INK and BIRO: Lemon juice and salt or leave the garment to soak in milk for at least an hour. Alternatively rub gently with a cloth soaked in ethyl alcohol, then repeat the operation with white vinegar.
MILK: Old stains should be rubbed with turpentine oil then rinsed with water. Fresh stains you can remove with warm soapy water.
MOULD: Lemon juice and salt, then dry the fabric in the sun. For white garments treat with bleach and rinse very thoroughly.
RUST: Use salt oxalic acid dissolved in warm water, or a rust removal product in the cold. Or even lemon juice. Old stains on linen fabrics: a hot sugar solution.
BLOOD: Rinse the stain immediately in cold water. In the case of dry stains, cover in lather, leave to soak and then rub in soapy water. Subsequently rub the residue gently with undiluted vinegar. It is also possible to rinse the stain well immediately in cold waterwith added ammonia and then wash.
SWEAT: Treat with alcohol or water and ammonia or with white vinegar and then rinse the garment thoroughly.
WINE: Red wine stains should be immediately covered with white wine or dabbed with salt and white vinegar or salt and lemon juice, rinse the garment thoroughly and immediately after the treatment.