On 14/8/06 21:36, in article
, "Mary Fisher"
wrote:


"Sacha" wrote in message
...


People paid attention to personal hygiene in mediaeval times too.

That does surprise me, I wouldn't have tought that soap had been
invented
then.

Of course it had! And it's easy to make, I did it for a long time and
still
do for museums.

Mary


I believe that people looking after old or delicate fabrics use an extract
or distillation of Saponaria to wash them in.

Some people claim that soapwort sp will clean delicate fabrics. It certainly
does make a lather (I grow it for that purpose) but I'm not convinced that
it cleans any better than just water.*

snip

My memory may be at fault here but I think I recall my ex mother in law who
had reason to care for some lovely old fabrics, telling me that the V&A
conservators who were based at Osterley Park (in the old stables IIRC) used
soapwort.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/