Conservation Bleaching with NaBH4 06/27/2013 By Jen Nason and Camille Myers Breeze One of the procedures regularly practiced at Museum Textile Services is the science of wetcleaning. We use the term “science� because it truly is just that.
Knit bedspread before sodium borohydride treatment.
Many textile conservation labs like Museum Textile Services use a deionized water system. Although water alone is a strong cleaning agent, we may also employ a mild surfactant (similar to soap) to encourage additional soil removal. Occasionally we will also use bleach to improve the appearance of discolored textiles.