Cleaning a tapestry (wool thread)

How about this:

craftenify.com/how-to-wash-embroidery/

This one says much the same

mytailorkit.com/how-to-clean-embroidery/

I have hand washed a tapestry in the past - cold water and soap flakes. Then blotted on a towel and pinned onto a board to dry so it keeps its shape. You should check for colour fastness first (use damp cotton wool and see if any colour comes off). If it does leak colour I wonder if you could try dusting with talc/dry shampoo and then brushing if off.
Incidentally, most duvets say do not dryclean. It's because of the risk of you inhaling the fumes when it goes back on the bed. I take feather duvets to our local cleaner/launderette to be washed and dried. Not sure about a wool duvet though !

I have successfully washed wool tapestries, but they have never been anywhere near the age of yours! I think you need to decide whether you are prepared to lose it if it all goes wrong. If so, you could try washing it in something gentle, like Dreft (is that even made any more?) Dunk it gently in the water, don’t rub, just keep gently dunking)). Depending on how grubby it is, you may need to repeat this a couple of times. Then rinse gently in tepid water. Very gently squeeze out as much excess water as possible. Place it upside down onto a hand towel onto a hard surface, and gently ease it into shape, then dab it to get a bit more water off. (Pressing it onto the towel means you don’t flatten your stitches, and putting it upside down means you press from the back, again protecting your stitches). Then, cover with an ironing cloth (these are invaluable if you are going to make a habit of stitching) and press with a iron on a low temperature. Do not iron in the normal way, just iron by pressing the iron gently onto each part of the work in turn. Hang over a towel rail or similar to continue drying.
Good luck, because, as I said, the age of the fabric might mean it disintegrates as soon as it hits the water.

Thank you MaizieD. That was very useful.

One of the articles says you can soak for 10-30 minutes, which sounds a long time.

The tapestry is in good condition as it has been in the box for the last almost 60 years.

I am still worried about doing it myself. I might contact a picture framing shop and see if they know of any specialist cleaners.

It seems a shame to risk ruining it after all this time.

If it's old it will be wool I think rather than (say) acrylic.
I would hand wash it flat in just tepid water first by gently tapping it a little and moving it gently to see if it bleeds.
If it does you will have to whoosh it out and blot it quickly with some old towels.
If it's OK I'd then decide how much dirt needs to come off and repeat. pull it into shape and take a look when it's nearly dry.
Then if it needs more washing I'd do it again until happy.
When I thought it was OK I'd pin it out (like you would if making a jumper) and let it dry properly.

If I was very confident after a couple of rinsings I might use a wool wash - very dilute, and gently draw it through the cloth.

Good luck

Thanks everyone.

It is definitely wool. I don't think it has deteriorated in any way. It is regular tapestry wool - about the same thickness as double knitting wool. So not too delicate.

I am going to have a go myself with Woolite (or similar) and follow all of your advice.

I am not confident with our local dry cleaners (Timpsons).

I took my linen mix sofa covers to them a few months ago. They didn't even look like they had been cleaned when I collected them. I complained and they did them again. No different - IMO.

It wasn't cheap and I did complain again. I am not normally a complainer. They gave me a partial refund.

Just a thought, ask in the dress department of your local museum. hugs

You can email the textiles dept at the V&A.
They gave me great advice about Victorian lace.