Dan- Unfortunately I know of no test to ensure that all the orvus is gone, other than to do several rinses and ensure that there are no bubbles or viscose "slime" left. I can give you some guidelines below that might help, but there is no magic wand for it that I know of. I can say that the standard recipe below has worked well on most occasions... a few times the bubbles remained. So, I rinsed until the bubbles were no longer - being careful to not directly agitate the textile with the water pressure but to buffer the flow from the object in the tank. Laundering with Orvus If washing colors or prints, test an inconspicuous area with distilled water. If color doesn’t run, it may be washed. Repair tears and holes before washing. Extremely fragile items should be encased in nylon net before washing. A fragile quilt can be washed by sewing it between two sheets and tacking it here and there. If we do not have adequate tubs and drying facilities for large items in house, they should be cleaned by a textile conservator such as Bryce Reverley of Gentle Arts in New Orleans. Washing: First, soak item to be washed in a bathrub or large enamel bowl filled with warm water. Mix desired amount of Orvus paste in a cup of lukewarm water until dissolved. (Use ˝ - 1 tablespoon per gallon of water). Add to warm water in tub. Smooth item out flatly to remove wrinkles. Orvus paste is a soft solid when cool and an amber liquid when warm. It gives equally satisfactory results either way. Whites: For white items only, add 1 tablespoon of (sodium perborate) per gallon of water. Mix with water in a cup until dissolved and add to tub. DO NOT rub spots. Fibers are weak whenever there is a spot. You may end up with a hole! Soak items at least three hours. Very dirty items may need soaking overnight or for several days. If this is necessary, change the water and paste/powder several times. Rinsing: Rinse six times – no less! Soap residue will yellow and will cause deterioration over time. The final rinse should be in distilled water. Drying: Do not wring. Gently squeeze out water and roll item in a white towel to absorb excess water. Dry flat on a sweater drying rack if possible or a sheet of glass or plexiglass, being careful to not snag the fibers. Antique fabrics should not be dried in the sun. Thought this would be useful to the list... In haste I did't complete the last sentence... if you would like to discuss this Dan off-list, please call me. Ware L.W.S. Petznick, Ph.D. McFaddin-Ward House Curator of Collections 725 Third St. Beaumont, TX 77701 [log in to unmask] www.mcfaddin-ward.org 409.832.1906 p 409.832.3483 f The McFaddin-Ward House is currently showing the exhibit "Moving In," which illustrates how the McFaddins first moved in to their new home at 1906 McFaddin Avenue in January 1907. Call 409-832-2134 for tour information. -----Original Message----- From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Dan Bartlett Sent: Friday, May 26, 2006 1:02 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: test for residual detergent? Hello All: Is there an easy way for to test for residual amounts of Orvus in the rinse water when I'm cleaning a textile, or should I just rinse multiple times and hope for the best? Also, is there any suggested ratio of Orvus to water? I'll be cleaning a flag made of wool bunting. Yes, I have done a spot test. Thanks, Dan -- Dan Bartlett Curator of Exhibits Midway Village & Museum Center Rockford, IL -- ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes). ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).