A few thoughts on dealing with mould and textiles. Firstly, mould is a
serious health concern -- it can cause respiratory problems as well as
skin and eye irritations. This tapestry should be handled with gloves
(disposable latex rather than cotton), goggles, and a mask (preferably
with a HEPA filter).

To remove the mould, I would recommend that surface cleaning rather than
wet cleaning be attempted. Vacuum following the screen technique but make
sure that the mould is dry (otherwise the brushing and vacuuming will just
smear the mould into the yarns). Also, isolate the tapestry from the rest
of your collection. Do the vacuuming outdoors or direct the exhaust
outside through a window to prevent the mould spores from spreading
through the museum. Seal and discard the vacuum bag after vacuuming the
mouldy tapestry.

If you feel that wet cleaning is necessary, consult a textile conservator.
Cleaning a tapestry (or any artifact in a collection) is not a straight
forward task -- the dyed yarns will need to be tested for colour fastness
and problems in shrinkage might occur with the linen backing.

By the by, IMS is Industrial Methylated Spirits which is ethanol with a
small amount of methanol.

Hope this helps. Contact the AIC's conservation services referral system
at (202) 452-9545 for information about qualified conservators in your
area.

Audrey Yardley-Jones
Conservation Co-ordinator
Alberta Museums Association
9829 - 103 Street
Edmonton, AB T5K 0X9
phone: (403) 424-2626