posted on September 23, 2000 06:04:29 PM
I bought a closet full of clothing today, much of it vintage. There are some neat pieces in there but a lot of it is soiled, some of it badly. I'm not going to sell the soiled pieces, of course, but I hate to just throw them out. The stains on most of them look the same - brownish yellow and over broad areas of the garments. Has anyone had success in getting similar stains out of old clothing?
I'm also not sure whether to take the uncleanable ones to the dump or give them to Goodwill. They'd be so nice if they were in better condition and I hate to just throw them away, but it also bugs me when I go to a thrift store and everything on the racks is stained. I think, "Why didn't someone just throw this away?" That's with more ordinary clothes, though.
What do you think?
The whole bunch smells like cigarette smoke, too...
posted on September 23, 2000 07:08:01 PM
It would be too bad to throw the whole lot out, without a proper appraisal of the situation. Vintage clothing often picks up a lot of grime from improper storage. Many times the old clothes are just stored, and not cleaned before being sent to the attic, upstairs closet etc. Of course the soiled areas pick up more grime, dust, etc faster than the non-soiled area. Some of the clothes depending on how badly damaged could be saved with a proper cleaning or even dry cleaning.
Perhaps depending on "how vintage" we're talking, they could even be sold as lots, as is, with damage noted, and leave it up to the professionals.
I would like to be more helpful, but would need to know exact damage and type of material you are working with.
posted on September 23, 2000 07:41:31 PM
With the idea in mind that a silk dress I had was 'ruined' anyway, if a stain did not come out....I used SPRAY Shout CARPET cleaner on it, let it sit for about 10 min., rubbed lightly, rinsed, and WA~LA...stain was gone! Try a small spot and check for color fastness...as if that won't do it- I have another thing I do- I have cleaned stuff you would never think wuld come out- including years of washed IN grease from linen napking! In a pan of cold water- say the size of a hospital wash pan, put in about 8 DENTURE cleanser tablets. (I use generic- equate) If what you are soaking is white- it will turn BLUE, but don't panic; it will become white again! Let this soak for a day, sometimes I do twq; adding a few more the 2nd. day. Unbelievable on fabric and china type stuff. I have one more
trick, that I get from an ebay seller...but I don't know if I can give her info, in case you want to buy this item...-Am I allowed to do that here? if so, somebody reply here and I will tell you about it! Cleans stuffed animals, dirty shoes, car grease...with NO CHEMICALS...not even soap! I am a relitavely new poster, and don't want to do anything not allowed!!
I have cleaned vintage stuff/stains with this also!! Hope this helps!! mizscarlett1-here, on ebay -and everywhere!!
posted on September 23, 2000 07:55:46 PM
As you can tell; I did not PROOF the last reply! I kin spele! HA! I forgot to mention that I use the spray shout (carpet) all the time now. It has been especially good for me on ties, and things you really would rather NOT put in the washer/or even get completely wet. **I also WASH my leather! In the washing machine! It used to cover a cow! Got wet! Now, I am not telling any one else to do it- but I throw a jacket in, a little woolite, delicate cycle. Then, I use a dryer sheet, dry on LOW heat at 10 min. at-a-time-intervals, for about a 30 min. length of time, it will still be damp at the end. hang it up and let room dry.Now, while watching tv...take the rag out of the plastic bag you keep with your LARGE JAR of vaseline- AND>>> as it is SATURATED with vaseline, you NEVER wash this rag, and caress this garment all over, for the hour or so the program is on! Put a towel over your lap, unless you want your legs silky soft, and have on shorts!!
(If the leather garment was mildewed, clean with alcohol first- drys fast, kills spores.-sometimes the smell comes out- sometimes not!) mizscarlett1
posted on September 23, 2000 08:11:41 PM
Anything I sell that is washable gets washed. I don't like dirty clothes around my house. I work on any stains and if they don't come out - well, then we know. I don't sell it or, if it's not too bad, can at least be up front about it. I'm in the "what have you got to lose by trying" catagory. I just bought a vintage white scarf that had a big rust/blood/??? stain in the middle. Cost me a whole dime so I wasn't going to lose too much. The first time I ran cold water through it, it all washed out. A soak in Biz can do wonderful things. Wash that stuff! You never know...
posted on September 23, 2000 08:31:54 PM
If the clothes are beyond cleaning you might consider cutting them up and sell the larger (unstained) remaining pieces of the garments as fabric for doll clothes or crafts especially if they have interesting prints
posted on September 23, 2000 10:39:41 PM
RainyBear
I have said this before on this board.
>>"The stains on most of them look the same - brownish yellow and over broad areas of the garments. Has anyone had success in getting similar stains out of old clothing?"<<
Yes, I have had great success getting this kind of stain out. We purchased a Wedding dress at a garage sale for $5.00. The dress was beautiful except for some nasty looking brown stains. We went to the "As seen on TV" store and purchased some Oxyclean. Oxyclean took those brown stains out almost instantly.
It won't work on every fabric or every stain so read the directions before using.
posted on September 23, 2000 11:09:38 PM
I've started sorting this stuff into piles of "filthy" and "not filthy." I'm going to try to clean it -- thanks for all the suggestions! My "filthy" pile has become that way mainly from storage, I think, with general dirt buildup and yellowing (probably from smoke) on the arms and other parts of it. I wonder if some of it might be mildew.
There's some neat stuff in there, so I'm going to do my best to preserve what I can and clean it up as much as possible.
My husband is out of town and getting back tomorrow -- and he's going to think I'm nuts when he sees all these old clothes!
posted on September 24, 2000 04:58:49 AM
On the pieces you're not going to sell, be sure to remove the buttons and check very closely for any jewelry that may have been left attached. Vintage buttons are hot sellers, at least the more unusual ones!
posted on September 24, 2000 09:44:50 PM
O.K., what about pit stains (eeuuuuu)? A friend of mine brought me some nice 40's things to sell, including a great swing dance outfit, but nearly everything has perspiration stains. Is all lost? I tried washing two dresses with tepid water and woolite, but they're still there.
posted on September 24, 2000 10:02:02 PM
that's a very good question! I've been wondering the same thing myself. I have a lovely vintage Pucci silk blouse that would be perfect if the previous owner had ever heard of deodorant.
posted on September 25, 2000 05:50:47 AM
Probably not something for RainyBear, but it may help someone sometime....
While living in Miami I found that my F-I-L's
old cotton baby dresses had gotten what I called "Florida yellow spots." I have seen the spots on clothing from alot of southern states since.
These are the little white cottons that have hand tucking, hand embroidery work from the 40s. I have seen them at antique stores from earlier periods too.
I read that a buttermilk soak would take out the stains and it did! I used it full strength and soaked the dresses for a few hours. I have 11 of these little things. Last time I looked (stored in the midwest now) they were still spot free.
It didn't work with a modern cotton though. Possibly because of all the chemicals they use on the plant & fabric now. Still might be worth the cost of a container though.
LabRat 4 GMOS
[ edited by labrat4gmos on Sep 25, 2000 05:52 AM ]
posted on September 25, 2000 09:34:20 AM
I was going to start another thread but since this is in the same vain, may as well post it here.
What about the smell of mold/mildew on leather or suede items? I have a leather purse and a suede jacket both in great shape but does have a musty smell. I dont want to ruin it of course. Any suggestions for dealing with leather or suede?
posted on September 25, 2000 09:58:22 AM
plain old baking soda works for smells then place in sun then vacuum the stuff up after a day or two with the purse then leave a dryer sheet in it
