How to clean and care for vintage clothes.

Vintage clothes are all the rage right now, with some items selling for tens, if not hundreds, of pounds on sites such as eBay. Luckily you don’t need to spend a fortune on them if you don’t have that kind of money to spare, as you can still pick up some real bargains in charity shops, car boot sales, clothes swapping parties and markets etc but what happens when you need to clean them? Let’s face it, any fabric fifty or sixty years old is going to have it’s own unique aroma and even if it isn’t dirty it is likely to be at the very least dusty.

Vintage fabrics need a little more care and attention than the modern types. The seams can be one real trouble spot as they often have small splits in them. Cotton can become a bit brittle over time and you may need to go over the seams carefully before you wear an item. Check the neck, arms and hem before trying something on for the first time, if they are broken then wait until you have carried out repaires before putting it on. Always hang vintage clothes insdie out to protect them from dust.

Sometimes all your vintage clothes will need is a good airing, if they look clean but smell a little musty then try hanging them outside in the fresh air for a day or two. Give them a good shake now and then to remove any dust and brush them down with a soft brush. Be extra careful on sunny days if the clothes are made from white wool or silk as these can yellow easily in direct sunlight. The same thing applies to any vintage clothes that have been cleaned by washing. Alternatively, hang the clothes in a spare room with a large glass bowl filled with white vinegar. This might sound odd but the vinegar does absorb the bad smells.

If you decide that your vintage clothes need more attention to make them clean enough to be wearable then washing will be in order. Vintage clothes from the fifties and sixties were often made from materials such as nylon, crimplene and polyester, all things that need a little extra care when cleaning. If you happen upon a garment made from rayon it might be best to bite the bullet and take it to a professional dry cleaner.

Vintage Rayon can be washed with care but you might end up ruining the item, it can shred and end up looking as if you have run it over a cheese grater, so it is best not to take the chance if it is something you really love. You can wash some vintage clothes made from materials such as silks and wool but I have had the odd disaster when doing it so I really can’t recommend it to you.

The most important rule to remember is never, ever wash anything vintage in a washing machine. There really are no exceptions to this rule. Vintage clothes need careful handling and that means washing them by hand. Be prepared for the colours to run - a lot! Always wash items individually to prevent dye transference. Colour fastness wasn’t something they had mastered in the fifties and sixties. Do up any buttons, zips or fastenings and wash the garments inside out.

If you find any grease stains then pre-treat them with some talcum powder. Sprinkle a small amount onto the stain and leave for ten minutes. Take the garment outside and give it a shake to remove the excess talcum, now using a very soft brush remove the rest of the powder.

Use a very gentle washing agent, something like lux flakes or Dreft is best. You will need to dissolve the washing agent in hot water first so pour a small amount of water onto the soap in a deep washing up bowl and then top up with lukewarm water until it feels pleasantly warm to the touch. Make sure that the water isn’t too hot as this can ruin your vintage clothes. Put the item to be washed into the bowl and move it around slowly, don’t rub or handle the fabric too harshly.

You can leave the clothes to soak for ten minutes if they are dirty and not just in need of freshening up but don’t over soak anything made of wool as it can shrink. When you are happy that your clothes are clean fill a bathtub with cold water and rinse out the soap, you will need to change the water at least twice. Once again remember to handle the fabric with care, it can be even more delicate when wet. Make sure that all of the soap has been removed, as leaving any in can damage the garment. Empty the bath and leave the clothes in the tub to allow excess water to drain out.

You can give the clothes a very gentle squeeze at this stage before wrapping them in a large clean bath towel and patting them to remove even more water. DO NOT WRING. It is so easy to forget yourself and pick up something and give it a good wring out but even if this doesn’t ruin the item, it will leave it so creased there isn’t an iron in the world that will be able to sort it out for you.

Dry the vintage clothes on a line outside or over the bathtub but be careful to only use plastic pegs as the wooden ones can leave a mark on your wet clothes. It is also useful to hang the clothes over a clean sheet or pillowcase as some lines can leave marks on the clothes as well.

Some very heavy items might need to be dried flat as the weight of the water will pull them out of shape, you can use a drying rack laid over the bath for this. Be prepared for it to take days to dry. Never put your vintage clothes into a tumble dryer, or a spin dryer, as they are much too delicate for that kind of treatment.

When it comes to ironing never iron directly onto the vintage fabric, try a small inconspicuous spot and iron through a clean white tea towel or white pillowcase. If the garment isn’t too badly creased you can try hanging it in the bathroom when you shower, the steam can work magic on creases and it will freshen up the clothes and help to remove any residual stale odours. .

Most important of all is to remember to treat your vintage clothes with the care and respect due to something that old.

Vintage clothes do take a lot more care and attention than anything made from modern fabrics but in my opinion they are well worth the effort.

Treat them properly and you will be rewarded with an item of clothing that will no doubt be unique and a real talking point amongst your family and friends.

You just know that if you wear one of your vintage finds out that the chances of bumping into someone else wearing the exact same thing are going to be pretty remote!

And if you do then compliment them on their great taste and make them a new friend.

 A good thing to do is to match your makeup to your vintage clothes. It can really help to complete the whole vintage look you are aiming for,