Caring for bunads

Although bunads can be hung in an ordinary wardrobe, they should be hung inside a specially designed protector bag. A bunad protector bag should ideally be made from unbleached and untreated canvas, which can be bought in most handicraft shops. Another alternative is to use an old, washed-out duvet cover to protect the bunad and an old pillow cover to protect the shirt. Bunads should be hung on a padded clothes hanger to distribute the weight of the garment, though the best solution is to fasten straps to the inside of the bodice, turn the bunad inside out with the bodice hanging inside the skirt, and hang the straps on the clothes hanger. This avoids putting a strain on the bodice fabric. Bunads should not be washed because neither wool nor silk tolerate washing very well. Bunads should ideally be cleaned by a qualified dry cleaner. If you get a small stain on the skirt, the best thing to do is drip a clean cloth in lukewarm water and carefully rub away the stain.

Caring for bunad shirts

• Shirts with embroidery will last much longer if washed by hand. Cotton shirts without embroidery can be machine-washed. Both cotton and linen shirts can be washed at up to 60°C.

• Bunad shirts should always be washed immediately after use to avoid any stains from drying.

• Bunad shirts should be not ironed long before they are to be worn because ironed shirts tend to turn yellow.

• Shirts that have started to turn yellow should first be washed to see whether the yellowing disappears. If this doesn't help, try sun bleaching by hanging it outside or laying it on the snow on a sunny day. However, this must not be done too often because sunlight can weaken the fibres.

Caring for silver jewellery

Polishing bunad silver jewellery should be done using the type of polishing cloth or glove that can be bought from a jeweller. Liquid silver polish is not recommended, because these products can be so abrasive that they may damage old bunad jewellery or oxidised or gilded silver. An easy way to clean silver is to wash it in lukewarm water with a few drops of Zalo washing-up liquid and a little Salmiakk (ammonium chloride). It is also a good idea to wipe over silver immediately after use with a cloth dipped in lukewarm water with a few drops of Zalo washing-up liquid. This will remove any greasy fingerprints before they dry.

Silver retains its shine if it is stored in airtight plastic bags, though with the exception of leather belts with plaques fastened to them. Because leather contains tannic acid, storing it in an airtight plastic bag will cause the silver to discolour. Silver that is stored in a bank box should be wrapped in airtight plastic bags because the metal in the bank box can also cause it to discolour. If your bunad silver has stains that are hard to remove, you should consult a silversmith for advice.