Medal Ribbons

[anitacorbett]

Although they are in a glass box frame, dads medal ribbons are becoming a little grubby. Does anyone know a firm who would clean them for us? We don't want to have them replaced which would be the easy option, for obvious reasons. They nearer they are to either Shrewsbury or Coventry the better.
Thanks folks, here's hoping.
Anita x

[sixties]

Google, to find out.

[anitacorbett]

I have but have been unable to find anyone to do it. They'll clean the medals but not the ribbons ~ they just want to replace them.
Anita x

[John Turner]

I googled it and found this (http://www.dva.gov.au/aboutDVA/publications/commemorative/memorabilia/Pages/page%2012.aspx) for starters, so, apart from brushing and/or hoovering, maybe a good dry cleaner could help?

Above that it would be a fabric conservator, which would not be cheap.

A problem is that the fabric is affected by UV light and the colours will fade and the fabric will weaken so (even with UV filtering glass in the frame, which I'll bet you haven't got) in time they will deteriorate.

The truth is that a picture frame is not the best thing for items that are irreplaceable, it exposes them to UV light and airborne pollutants - and by 'UV light' I don't mean visible (sun/day) light, UV light is invisible and is the most damaging part of the spectrum to this type of thing, they simply were not designed for permanent display.

Standard/non-conservation mounting methods and materials will add to the problem - they will fail and/or decay and take the 'artwork' with them.

[anitacorbett]

Thanks John, I know display isn't the best way for them but it's the way we like them. We're proud of dad, John, Clive and my son Matthew whose medals are all on display in the same way. I also know that deep down we will probably have to either replace the ribbons and/or take them and pop them in a drawer but what a waste. A dry cleaner wont clean them cos they have the medals attached!! If it comes to a fabric conseravator and thats the best option then thats what we'll do.
Thanks for your help, if anyone else has a brill idea please share it.
Take care all
Anita xx