Abstract:
The old fibers that make up heritage textiles displayed in museums are degraded by the
aging process, environmental conditions (microclimates, particulate matter, pollutants, sunlight) and
the action of microorganisms. In order to counteract these processes and keep the textile exhibits
in good condition for as long as possible, both reactive and preventive interventions on them are
necessary. Based on these ideas, the present study aims to test a natural and non-invasive method
of cleaning historic textiles, which includes the use of a natural substance with a known antifungal
effect (being traditionally used in various rural communities)—lye. The design of the study was
aimed at examining a traditional women’s shirt that is aged between 80–100 years, using artificial
intelligence techniques for Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) imagery analysis and X-ray powder
diffraction technique in order to achieve a complex and accurate investigation and monitoring of
the object’s realities. The determinations were performed both before and after washing the material
with lye. SEM microscopy investigations of the ecologically washed textile specimens showed that
the number of microorganism colonies, as well as the amount of dust, decreased. It was also observed
that the surface cellulose fibers lost their integrity, eventually being loosened on cellulose fibers of
cotton threads. This could better visualize the presence of microfibrils that connect the cellulose
fibers in cotton textiles. The results obtained could be of real value both for the restorers, the textile
collections of the different museums, and for the researchers in the field of cultural heritage. By
applying such a methodology, cotton tests can be effectively cleaned without compromising the
integrity of the material.
