Hi, Patty, Thanks for having faith in me! I did mis-speak -- I meant to call vinegar an acid and soap a base. Audrey-- thank you for the explanation. I didn't think of soaps "attacking" animal fibers, but that makes sense. Thanks again to you both! Lauren [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.timetraveltextiles.com
-------------- Original message -------------- From: "Rickard, Patty" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > 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 _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
