I wonder if charcoal would absorb the odor? You'd have to wrap the charcoal in cloth so that the ash didn't get on the serape and then put it in a plastic bag for a while. I did that with a wool sweater to help remove the odor of wood smoke.

I don't know about the stiffness, but I have gotten bad smells out of stuffed animals by enclosing them in a plastic bag for several days with either an opened box of baking soda or activated charcoal.

Ah, that's really interesting, Fun2. I'll try that. Thanks!

oops, missed your message, maire cate --thanks to you, too. I'm detecting a trend here...

I've always had success with other textiles by setting the item on a chair on a windy day, but in the shade.

Then I put it in the dryer on "air" with a dryer sheet for about 5-10 minutes.

Good luck!

Thanks, oakley. I could try either one of your recommendations first, since I don't have the charcoal or new box of baking soda right yet.

Anyone have any experience with making a multicolor vintage wool piece colorfast? Or cleaning it at all?

Fly,
If you are washing with water, use Synthrapol, which is a liquid soap that doesn't let colors bleed back onto the fabric if they are lifted a bit in the washwater. Get it at art stores in the dye supplies section. It did get the smoke smell out of some nubby 1930's silk drapes of mine, using only the barest of warm water, but YMMV of course. I don't know if wool serapes are meant to be washed at all?

You can wash these, GENTLY in cool water with Woolite or any detergent meant for wool.

Rinse in more cool water - lots of it - and hang to dry.

If you are worried about bleeding colors, get a proper anti-bleeding product as suggested.

The remaining mothball smell has to air out - hang it somewhere in the shade.

liriodendron, circuspeanut, these are extremely helpful posts. I've never heard of those detergents...synthrapol is serious, and Eucalan also looks wonderful! I'll order some today to have it on hand, even if I can't use it on this piece. I have other vintage textiles that could use the wash. I'm thinking I may put off cleaning this piece (I'll do the airing thing now, though) until summer so it can dry in the shade. There's just too much chance of rain these days.

Really appreciated. I knew the wise women of g'web would have good advice to help me save this beautiful thing.

Thanks, lazy! I'm so scared about colorfastness, because it's taken me so long to find a piece of this size.

You may want to use the Synthrapol for the first washing, to make sure the dye is set. Then use the Eucalan for all subsequent washings to maintain the oil in the wool.

Picture? Picture?