Care of Linens and Vestments
Altar linens, while not in and of themselves holy, come
in contact with the consecrated elements, and therefore at
times contain the Body and Blood of Christ. The washing of
the linens, though not difficult, has some traditions which
pertain to the fact that the linens have contacted our Lord.
The first step is to shake out the corporal over a piscina
or on the ground if none is available. This step ensures
that any crumbs do not go into the sewer. Next, the linens
should be rinsed, or even soaked if there are wine stains,
and this water should also go into a piscina or onto the
ground.
Next, the linens should be washed. The washing can be by
hand or by machine, but the linens are always washed separately,
never with our regular laundry. If there are wine stains
or lipstick on them, they should be pre-treated with your
choice of stain remover. Bleach should be avoided, as it
will break down the fibers of the linen and shorten the life
of the fabric. Do not add fabric softener or starch, as insects
are attracted to them, and could decide to feast on them
during storage. Wash the linens and rinse well, being sure
to remove all soap. I run them through an extra rinse cycle
on the machine.
After washing comes the ironing. Linen should be pressed
while damp. If run through the dryer it will wrinkle and
be difficult to remove wrinkles. In damp climates the linens
are shaken and laid flat, wrapped in a clean white towel
and refrigerated overnight, as this removes excess moisture
and helps in the ironing. I live in the desert and skip this
step as the fabric begins to dry so quickly that I must cover
it to keep it moist; use your judgment.
Iron linens with a hot iron and no steam, as it adds more
moisture. Smooth and block the linen back to its original
shape before pressing. This is not a fast ironing job, as
we are pressing and drying the linen and keeping it blocked
to size at the same time. In damp climates, the linens are
laid flat after ironing and left to rest for 24 hours, then
given another quick ironing to “polish” the linen
after it has completely dried. In arid climates the linen
dries well during the first pressing.
After your linen is pressed and completely dried it is
time to prepare them for storage. Small linens should be
folded according to the tradition of your denomination. Large
linens, such as altar cloths, should be rolled on tubes to
prevent wrinkles, or hung on hangers, depending on your storage
area.
Vestments and paraments are usually dry cleaned, depending
on the fiber content, construction techniques and decorative
elements. Some of the newer commercially produced items are
washable, but be sure to check. Many of us who are making
vestments are using fabrics and adornments which are washable
to aid in the cleaning process.
To keep these items at their best between necessary cleanings,
remove any dust and dirt which settles on them, and keep
them out of direct sunlight, heat and dampness, all of which
are detrimental to the fibers. Do not store the items in
plastic bags, as these can retain moisture. Cotton covers
are easy to make from sheeting or unbleached muslin. I learned
a great technique for removing dust and surface dirt from
a textile conservator- she has a clean window screen in a
frame which she places on top of the item and then vacuums
it, removing the dust and dirt while protecting the fabric
from being sucked into the vacuum tool.
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