posted on September 14, 2000 07:04:40 AM
I know that HCQ seems to be the guru of textile cleaning around here, but I would appreciate help from anyone with experience in this field. I have several mid-century rayon and acetate items that have stains I can't determine how to remove. The first is a rose print acetate bedspread with a great big black smear that looks like tar or creosote or something horrible (on the solid colored dust ruffle). The other is a rayon or acetate (no label) WWII era Hawaiian dress that has small rust stains where someone used a safety pin on it yeaars ago. The (very old) reference books I have about home dry cleaning and stain removal recommend using gasoline and other dangerous &/or toxic substances. I was wondering if there are any other possible solutions. I'm willing to gamble on anything reasonable, because the bedspread is a loss with the stain, but would probably sell for decent money if I could remove it. Thanks in advance for your assistance.
posted on September 14, 2000 07:18:11 AM
Unfortunately acetate is a nightmare in general. It's hardhardHARD to remove old creases, it stains like mad just from water, and it tends to shatter (IOW, fall apart) unless you take really good care of it.
Your stuff sounds so nice, too And of course the stain on the spread has to be on the solid part! Grr. You're going to need some sort of solvent to even begin to dissolve the tar/creosote/black gunk, and that means gasoline/lighter fluid/turpentine/solvent-based spot remover. As long as you do this outside and refrain from playing with matches while you do it, there's not a real hazard (even rubbing real hard isn't going to cause enough friction to create a spark )
Get yourself a bottle of solvent-based spot remover, which is not going to be easy to find, and give it a shot. If you're willing to shell out a bit, you might tote it down to a GOOD drycleaner (not one of those Fotomat-type places, but one that's run by octogenarians) and see what they have to say. The thing's going to need dry-cleaning anyway, I'm guessing.
As to the rust spots, you can give an oxalic acid solution a try. Couple sources for this are "Whink!", which is made for this sort of thing, Biz (mix some up and dot it on just the spots) or Barkeeper's Friend (yup, the cleanser, use it same as Biz). Now keep in mind that I've etched my tile countertop with Biz, so you can't leave the solution on there indefinitely. Don't bleach - rayon dislikes bleach nearly as much as nylon. I am assuming this thing appears washable to you. If that's the case, you might just bink it in a bucket of Biz for an hour or so and then hand-wash it and see what happens.
posted on September 14, 2000 07:25:10 AM
My 2 cents for what it's worth...
The bedspread sounds like a write-off unfortunately. ("tar like" stains - ouch!) Use it for pillow covers or curtains or cut off the affected area and sell it as a piece of fabric. For the other I would recommend a laundry product called Didi-7. It's widely available in Canada (I assume in the US as well). I believe it is imported from Germany. It is incredible for removing stains and I've never had it ruin a fabric article yet. For really stubborn stains I wet the item down then apply Didi-7 (it's a paste in a tube), rub it in a bit then let it sit for 12 to 24 hours. Works everytime!
posted on September 14, 2000 07:26:32 AM
Thanks HCQ! I am always amazed at your vast knowledge of textiles. I will give these suggestions a try. I fell in love with the bedspread at the thrift store and confess that I did not open it up fully to check it out until I got home . If it doesn't clean up, I guess I will use the good portions for another project (as if the "textile project closet" isn't already bulging at the seams). LOL
posted on September 14, 2000 09:46:16 AM
"Vast knowledge of textiles"? More like "vast knowledge of stuff I've spilled and bad textile buys I've made"
I've had some nasty bleeding/bleaching experiences with Didi7, although some folks I respect absolutely swear by it.
celeste is right on the money. Sell the spread as a cutter. I've sold damaged 40's tablecloths that way, single curtains, dresser scarves with stains on one end, you name it. It kills "fabricpigs" (that's a compliment, folks) to cut up perfectly good vintage textiles for other uses. "Cutters" are a godsend. As a buyer you get to feel (a) like you got a deal, which you generally do get (although some cutter auctions turn into serious catfights); (b) morally superior for not having damaged a "good" textile; and (c) eminently creative for turning trash into treasure. I sell my cutters as a lot unless they're seriously huge (which yours would appear to be).
And of course the stain on the spread has to be on the solid part! Grr. You're going to need some sort of solvent to even begin to dissolve the tar/creosote/black gunk, and that means gasoline/lighter fluid/turpentine/solvent-based spot remover. As long as you do this outside and refrain from playing with matches while you do it, there's not a real hazard (even rubbing real hard isn't going to cause enough friction to create a spark 
)
