1 Answer

Things You'll Need
White cotton fabric
White cotton thread
Hand-sewing needle
Pillowcase
Borax
Bucket
White sheet

Instructions
1
Lay a length of thin white cotton fabric on a flat surface. The fabric should be slightly larger than your small lace items, such as doilies or handkerchiefs. Never use a colored fabric because the dye may run and ruin the lace.

2
Lay your lace item on top of the white fabric.

3
Loosely sew the lace to the fabric. Use only white cotton thread.

4
For large lace pieces: Place the lace tablecloth, curtains, or other item into a white cotton pillowcase. Tie a knot in the end of the pillowcase.

5
Dissolve Borax in a clean bucket of warm water.

6
Place the fabric with the tacked on lace or the pillowcase contain the lace into the bucket and submerge. Dip in and out. Use care to only handle the fabric, not the lace.

7
Fill another bucket with lukewarm water. Dip the fabric in and out to rinse. If very dirty repeat with fresh Borax and water and fresh rinse water.

8
Lay down a plastic tablecloth or sheet, use plastic so the lace does not become stuck to the surface. Lay the fabric on a flat even surface with the lace facing down. Snip the threads and remove the fabric from the lace. For large pieces, use care not to lift the wet lace because the weight of the water can break the fibers and create holes or tears. Place your pillowcase on the plastic. Carefully, slowly and gently remove the lace and flatten. Be sure the surface is large enough to accommodate the entire piece and none of the wet lace hangs. Do not pull or tug to flatten, use your hands to only smooth it out.

9
For stained or yellowed lace, lay flat to dry in the sun, right in the grass.

Read more: How to Wash Vintage Lace | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_5696276_wash-vintage-lace.html#ixzz2NSC2O0vf