Caring for your vintage items... Proceed with caution! As a collector and lover of vintage clothing for almost a quarter of a century, there has been a lot of Trial & Error. The information I've provided below comes from my own personal/professional experience, in addition to knowledge gained from a vast array of resource books and from asking other collectors about methods they've used successfully. Before attempting to clean anything yourself, remember to ask a million questions or enlist the aid of a professional. You'll be glad you did...trust me! Basic Do's & Don'ts Do's Ask the person selling you the item if they have any tips on how to care for/clean or repair whatever it is your buying or thinking of buying. Depending on where you shop (Flea Market, Thrift Store, Vintage Clothing Boutique), they may or may not be able to help you but it never hurts to ask. I LOVE it when I can share valuable information/tips with fellow collectors (new and old). Knowing how to care for your new vintage purchase is vital. Proper care will insure that you get the most wear and enjoyment from whatever you decide to buy. Always test a hidden or well concealed area of any thing you're attempting to clean or launder yourself. This way you can see how the fabric will respond to water getting the entire piece wet. Wrap your beaded/heavy vintage clothing items in acid-free tissue paper. Check for holes by holding the garment up in a well lit area of the store. Many vintage stores have the worst lighting, so don't be afraid to check, double check and then check again. Before trying anything vintage on, check for hidden snaps/buttons or other closures. Don't just pull it over your head or try to squeeze into it. Remember...if you damage it, you just bought it...Like it or not. When bringing anything vintage to a professional dry-cleaner be sure to tell them that the item is VINTAGE and not new. Ask them to use the MOST gentle solvents/chemicals on it. If the garment has fancy buttons ask them to cover them or remove them FIRST, so that they don't get mangled or lost. Store your vintage items in a cool, dark space. Harsh light can damage/fade the fabric. Have any and all repairs/alterations done professionally, unless you can sew. Call your local museum and ask to speak to someone in the Costume department if you've been unable to find answers about how to care for your particular vintage item.
This list will be added to as time permits Don'ts No WIRE HANGERS!!! Joan was right about this one. I'm always amazed, shocked and dismayed when I see vintage clothing (especially) hanging from a wire hanger. It's just WRONG. Invest in padded hangers or anything but wire hangers. Never try to clean anything with beading or intricate appliqués yourself. Take it to a professional, it'll cost more but you'll be glad you did. Even if a garment has a care label that says you can machine wash it, DON'T. Ultrasuede is a perfect example of this. I've had dozens of heartbroken people tell me that they destroyed something made of Ultrasuede after tossing it in the washer (just like the tag says) and to their horror it came out ruined. Hand wash/soak your vintage items (when you can). Don't dry-clean EVERYTHING. Hand washing/soaking is gentler in most cases. The constant use of dry-cleaning solvents will shorten the life of your garment in the long run. Be wary of stain removal solvents, many of those on the market today are too harsh for vintage clothing items and if used, will eat right through the fabric. Don't put anything vintage (except maybe denim) in the dryer. Let it dry naturally. Don't be fooled by "Vintage Designer Fakes". That's right! Just because it has a designer label sewn in doesn't make it authentic. This can be particularly tricky/challenging for those that are new to collecting vintage. I've seen/heard of countless innocent people paying exorbitant prices for what they THOUGHT was an authentic vintage designer piece, when in fact, some slime-bag stole (or bought) a vintage label and stitched it into another garment.
This list will be added to as time permits to be continued...
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