Dear Alex, You addressed the question to me about Ecozone Ecoballs. I am not a chemist. I write for the person who has family lace or newly-purchased old lace and wants to clean it. Nothing is completely foolproof, because lacemakers and lace collectors are all over the world, living in varied climates and different home circumstances, and are intent on washing a variety of different laces. I suggest making an inquiry of the conservation department at a major museum with textile collections. My gut feeling is that these new commercial products are OK for day-to-day clothing and home furnishings, which most of us do not keep or collect for long periods of time. My concern would be fifty years or more, and for items that will be put away in storage for lengthy periods of time. With all the different fibers and fiber combinations being used for lacemaking, there could be other reasons for being careful about using something not yet museum-tested. (I am sure 19th C. ladies would not have washed precious lace in the water available then, if they had known what we know now about iron, manganese, etc. which have destroyed so many of their lace treasures.) Climate, water quality, and gentleness are of extreme importance, and the real life combinations vary widely. There are many caveats. Not everyone cares how long their laces survive -- they've said so quite loudly on Arachne. My advice is not written for them. Manufacturers of new cleaning products are not thinking about preservation. They make claims that sound nice. For maximum profit, they are marketing to the widest possible customer base. They also have the freedom to change formulas at will, and may not reveal these changes. I write about the product Procter & Gamble manufactures -- with very specific customers in mind: ORVUS. Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace and Embroidery Resource Center --------------------------------------------------------- In a message dated 9/16/2012 4:46:50 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, alexstillw...@talktalk.net writes: While we are on the subject of washing, a question that has been in my mind for a while. In my washing machine I use 'Ecozone Ecoballs' from www.healthy-house.co.uk that are fragrance free and claim to be chemical free. I don't know if they can be used for hand washing but would they be harmful to our fibres?
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