Should I wash my mother's Christening Gown??

What a beautiful idea you have of placing these precious pieces in a shadow box. However, I would be scared to death to attempt to wash them. I wonder if you might be able to just CAREFULLY iron the gown.🙏🏻 Good luck!

Love the idea, it's beautiful. But I too would be scared to do it. Have you talked to a good dry cleaner? They would know how it could be done.

I have collected some old linens over the years. My best advice is to gently wash it by hand and dry it on a spread out towel, letting it air dry. If you gently smooth it out as it dries, you may not have to iron it. Good luck and stay safe!

I have one made of cotton over 100 years old. I washed it by hand and laid it out in the sun. I flipped it over after a couple hours. It went from yellow to white! I fixed the lace collar as best I could. The difficult part was ironing tiny little sleeves!!! Four of my grandkids have used it! Good luck!

Maybe gently wash it by hand

Thank you. I did need to look up "Belfast sink". I am going to handcwash it and may dry it with hair dryer which seems like a good idea.

I would for sure take it to dry cleaners to be safe

Hello Patty,

You could hand wash it, if you wanted to, or leave it and just steam it, if you wanted it to look old! Best of luck with project!

Handwashing it gently would be best then air dry and touch up with an iron. Definitely don't wash it in a machine or dry in an automatic dryer. I hope you can preserve it as it is a precious piece of your family's history. How wonderful you have it.

I would take this to a professional cleaner and/or conservator for the best advice.