Tips, Tips and More Tips from May 2012

Don’t dry your china and crystal with a cloth that has been laundered with fabric softener. The softener may leave a film.

Clean leather baseball gloves with a commercial cleaner, not a wax product that will seal in the dirt. Murphy Oil Soap is a biodegradable vegetable oil that is good for leather. Use a soft brush and lukewarm, not hot, water. Don’t clean cloth parts or printing that may rub off. Be aware that most cleaners will remove all ink, including autographs. After cleaning, you may want to polish the leather, but some collectors prefer gloves that have not been colored in any way by polish.

Never wash vintage silk, satin, banners, flags or embroideries. The delicate fabrics may fade or the colors may run and lightweight fabrics wear out very quickly. Unglazed earthenware, terra-cotta and creamware should not be washed. And never put them in the dishwasher; heat will harm the clay body.