HNW - Mexican crewelwork cleaning question

[RowanA@aol.com]

Hello, all -- 
This is not really a question about ancient needlework, but about newer 
needlework from Mexico -- hope someone might be able to help me.  At a flea 
market here in Southern California recently, I bought a framed piece of 
Mexican crewelwork for a couple of dollars.  I took it out of the cheap frame 
immediately -- someone had glued it onto a piece of cardboard, and it was 
being held into a plywood frame with some metal nails, which had made rust 
marks on the edges of the material.  The material itself appears to be some 
kind of natural-colored linen.  The yarn colors are very bright: pinks, 
purples, yellows, turquoise and greens, along with black.  The piece is 
somewhat dirty from exposure in a glassless frame (who knows how long it was 
on display at outdoor flea markets in the polluted air of L.A.?) and of 
course there are those rust marks on the edges, not to mention the cardboard 
that has still stuck to it on the edges of the back side.  I'd like to wash 
it, but I'm afraid the bright yarn colors will run.  Any advice on what I 
should try?  One local crafts store recommended Woolite, but since I never 
use that on my OWN needlework I wouldn't want to try it here (although -- 
this does appear to be wool yarn...).  I do have Orvus -- do you think a wash 
in cold water and Orvus would make it run?  And is there any way to get rid 
of rust stains and glue/cardboard residue?  I think that, cleaned up and in a 
good frame and mat, this piece would be very pretty!
Thanks!  :-) Rowana 

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