Removing stains can make your vintage fabrics like new.
Vintage clothing and textiles are a collector's dream because they are easily obtainable and often very affordable. However, many vintage fabrics show their age through an accumulation of dirt and stains. Fortunately, removing stains from vintage fabrics is usually easy and inexpensive.
Warning
If the fabric item is delicate, has great sentimental or monetary value, or you cannot determine what the fabric is made of, do not attempt stain removal yourself, as you may damage the fabric beyond repair. Consult a professional cleaner or restorer for advice or stain removal services.
Considerations
It is important to determine what the fabric is made of before attempting to remove stains. Some stain removers that are perfectly safe on organic materials such as cotton or linen can damage man-made fibers such as polyester or nylon. You should never attempt to clean silk, for instance, as cleaning can further stain silk. If the fabric item does not have a tag identifying what it is made of, do not attempt to remove stains without consulting a professional.
It is also important to note that some stains cannot be removed without damaging the fabric.
General Cleaning
Washing alone may remove stains from vintage fabrics. For vintage fabrics that are safe to wash, Fashion Era warns that you do not use a washing machine or a dryer for any vintage items.
Handwashing is recommended, using a mild, pH neutral soap, such as regular Dawn dishwashing liquid. Allow items to soak in a sink or tub, gently swishing to clean. Change the wash water, adding more soap, until the water no longer looks dingy. Lay items flat to dry on towels or sheets.
Common Stains
Many common stains, including protein stains such as blood or food stains and perspiration stains, be removed using a bar laundry soap, which is safe to use on washable fabrics. Bar laundry soaps include Sunlight, Fels Naptha or Octogon. Make a lather with the bar soap, apply to the stain, allow it to penetrate the stain for up to 30 minutes, then rinse well.
Yellowing or Graying
White cotton and linen fabrics can often become yellow or gray with age. Sturdy vintage fabrics that have yellowed can be soaked in a solution of Oxyclean and water to remove the yellowing or graying. Fashion Era suggests that sturdy fabrics be soaked over a period of days, changing the water/Oxyclean solution periodically. Items should dry in bright sunlight, which also produces a bleaching action.
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