Was wondering if anyone could help me? I bought an old American Flag 48 Stars, and it is quite dirty. I think the material is linen. Anyhow, my question is "is it proper to wash or launder it? All of the stars and stripes are sewned on. It is a beautiful flag and I just want to do the right thing. Any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks is advance. 1|1|Read Inside|littlewolf|CCsuterlab@aol.com|21:39:52|06/24/2010|
http://www.heritagepreservation.org/NEWS/flag.htm
Cleaning
Minimize washing or cleaning flags or other textiles you want to keep. If your flag is very old, more than 30 years, you should not wash or dry clean it except with the advice of a professional conservator. The only appropriate cleaning method for old flags is vacuuming gently (on low suction) using a brush attachment covered by a clean piece of cheesecloth. It is best not to contact the flag with a brush that has been used for other cleaning, and the cheesecloth will prevent tears and snags. Vacuum a fabric by gently patting the surface as if you were blotting it.
New flags should be clean when they are stored. Depending on the type of material, the flag can be washed gently by hand using a mild soap.
I am sure there are many opinions on this one. Personally, I would most definitely NOT try cleaning it in a washing machine and/or dryer.
2|1|thank you very much|melf39|melf39@comcast.net|22:00:13|06/24/2010|
thank you very much for the info.