Method

Explanation

Wooden drawer

Without a protective, acid-free padding, this would be a poor method. Items would develop a brownish stain (caused by acid) wherever the fabric touched the wood. Also, the metal hardware could cause rust stains.

Wooden drawer with mattress pad liner

The addition of the mattress pad would protect the textile from the wood. Old mattress pads that have been washed several times are better than new ones. If the final rinse is done in distilled water, iron particles in hard water areas will not cause rust stains to develop.

Wooden drawer with polyethelene liner

Polyethelene padding is a good choice for a liner. This padding is used by furniture manufacturers when shipping furniture from the plant to the retail store. This packing is considered "waste" by the furniture dealer and may be obtained at no cost.

Wooden drawer with polyvinyl chloride liner

Polyvinyl chloride is not the same type of plastic as polyethelene. Polyvinyl chloride is used in drycleaning bags and other commercial storage bags. To determine if plastic is polyvinyl chloride, either read the label or scratch the plastic surface and sniff. The polyvinyl chloride will smell like wax. Polyvinyl chloride is not a good liner. It will damage the textile with hydrochloride acids which eat holes in fabric.

Wooden drawer coated with polyurethane

Coating the inside of a wooden drawer with polyurethane protects textiles from the acids in wood. Coating the metal hardware on the inside of a drawer with polyurethane will also protect textile items against rust stains.

Wooden drawer with unbleached muslin liner

Unbleached, 100 percent cotton muslin, washed several times and left unironed, is an excellent liner for textile storage. It is soft and can be shaped easily to fit the storage area.

Wooden drawer with bleached muslin liner

Bleached muslin is not a good choice for textile storage. The bleach residue in the fabric will eventually eat holes in the heirloom textile.

Wooden drawer with acid-free tissue liner

Acid-free tissue paper is a good choice for textile storage. There are no acids in the paper to cause fabric damage. Regular tissue paper contains tannic acid which discolors the fabric.

Acid-free box

Acid-free boxes can be used without a liner; however, be sure to check the contents of the box at least every six months for possible insect damage.

Bridal box from drycleaner

Bridal boxes with little plastic windows are not usually acid-free and will cause brownish stains to form on the textile. Also, the plastic used in the window is not polyethelene. It is polyvinyl chloride which will also cause damage.

Acid-free tape

For long-term storage, wrap textiles in acid-free tissue paper and seal with acid-free tape. Never seal or tape items placed in polyethelene since moisture could collect inside the container and cause mildew.

Wrapped clothes hanger

Clothes are sometimes stored on a hanger instead of being folded and put in a drawer or box. If this type of storage is used, the clothes hanger needs to be padded and wrapped with unbleached, unironed, 100 percent cotton muslin.