You probably have clothing or linens that have some special significance to you. Perhaps it's your mother's wedding dress, your child's baby clothes, your father's military uniform, pillowcases with your grandmother's handmade lace edging, or one of your great-grandmother's quilts. All of these are important parts of your family tradition, things that add special significance and understanding of their lives. It is your responsibility to preserve these items for posterity and to help carry on their tradition.

Here are some basic rules to follow when storing textiles:

Store Items in Acid-Free Materials—Make certain that the storage materials you use are acid-free. Many dry cleaners have acid-free boxes and tissue for sale. Be sure to specifically ask whether the storage materials are acid-free. If the clerk doesn't know, go somewhere else. This is too important.

Wrap Fabrics in Acid Free Tissue Paper Before Folding Them—Tissue paper helps cushion the material. Sharp folds and creases actually break the textile fibers over time and cause extensive damage.

Never Use Metal Pins or Clips—Steel safety pins and paper clips will rust over time, regardless of how carefully you think you are controlling humidity. They will leave rust stains that probably can never be removed.

Wrap Metal Buttons in Paper or Cotton Cloth—Metal buttons can rust or tarnish, leaving stains on the fabric that may not be removable.

Never Store Fabrics in Plastic Bags—Plastic bags are great for short-term storage of materials from the cleaners, however, remember that plastic is a petroleum-based product. Over time it breaks down and gives off fumes and chemicals that can discolor and destroy many fabrics.

Never Store Precious Fabrics and Polyester Materials Together—Your grandmother's wedding dress should not be stored beside your husband's favorite polyester leisure suit from the 1970s. 100% polyester clothing, just like a plastic bag, is a petroleum-based product. Store these "treasures" separately.

Never Store Precious Fabrics in Plastic Boxes—The marketplace is full of handy storage items, including plastic storage boxes. These may be great for storing clothes from one season to the next, but they are not good for the kind of long-term, archival storage that you want to do.

Attach Labels with a Needle and Thread—If you want to attach a label identifying the origin of the item, you have a couple of choices. Choose an acid-free paper, or cut a piece of cotton fabric, and label it with an indelible marking pen. Do not use felt-tip or ballpoint pens; their ink tends to run, discolor, or fade and can damage the item you wish to preserve. Sew the label in an inconspicuous place using a strong cotton thread.

Fabics Need to Breathe—Have you heard stories of someone's grandmother saving all her precious linens in a trunk, only to discover one day that they had crumbled due to dry rot? This is no myth. It is important to allow fabric to breathe. Take the materials out from time to time. Unwrap and unfold them. Give them some air. Then, repackage them and return them to their proper place.

Be Careful of Sunlight—Sunlight can cause materials to fade and disintegrate. If you keep some items on display, be careful where you place them. For instance, don't place a quilt on a quilt rack under the sunniest window in the guestroom. If you have a colorful scarf matted and framed in the foyer, make sure it doesn't receive any afternoon sun.

Articles in this Series
Part 1: Photos, by Karen Frisch

Part 2: Paper, by Barbara Sagraves

Part 3: Books, by Joan Nay

Part 4: Textiles, by George G. Morgan

Part 5: Other Treasures, by Miriam Plans

George G. Morgan, president of Aha! Seminars, Inc., is the "Along those Lines . . ." columnist which is featured in the Ancestry Daily News, and is the author of The Genealogy Forum on America Online.