Sounds like she just wrote base when she meant acid (in the vinegar) -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Audrey Bergeron-Morin Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2008 1:29 PM To: Historical Costume Subject: Re: [h-cost] Washing silk taffeta
> An question: what is it about the vinegar rinse that restores crispness? Is > it just the base neutralizing the soap residue, or something more > interesting? The exact opposite. Soaps, detergents, and other things of the kind, are almost always basic, except for some very specific products made for specific purposes (washing sheep, for example). The problem with bases is that they attack animal fibers (dissolve them, in fact - which is why wool and silk - as well as human skin and hair - dissolve in bleach). Of course, soaps and detergents are far from being as basic as bleach, so the damage is minor. Silk, being an animal "fiber", is attacked by the high (basic) pH. Lowering (acidifying) the pH, neutralizes this undesirable effect, so to speak. _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
