What You Should Know About Caring for Vintage Garments by Tobias Foster

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There is an increased interest in buying, caring for, and wearing vintage clothes. Some people are passionate about everything vintage, including garments and shoes, and some who want to adopt more eco-friendly behaviors.

Either way, vintage clothes bear a great history within their fibers. It is a real challenge to find your size and a high-quality clothing piece. But a bigger challenge is to take care of vintage garments and learn how to do it correctly.

Here is some advice that will help take good care of your vintage clothes

Allow Clothes to Dry Before You Wash Them

An important step to take before washing your clothes is letting them dry. If you have worn them in places where the smoke is dense, or if it has been raining or you simply perspired on them, it is advisable to let them dry.

This is valid not only for vintage garments but for every piece of clothing, says a college paper study conducted by experts from dissertation help. If you throw them in the hamper, they will not dry out and the unpleasant smells will only persist. Also, clothes can develop mildew if you do this often, and this weakens the fibers.
So, let your clothes dry before you wash them. Like this, any unpleasant odors will simply go out of your clothing pieces.

Machine Washing

Even though most new clothes can be machine washed, this is not the case for all vintage clothes. If you think that they will not stand the test of machine washing, it is better to avoid it. Old clothes have their fibers weaker most of the time, and the washing machine is too powerful for them. And you may end up with your delicate clothes ripped apart.
However, there are cases when clothes are in a much better state and can be machine washed. Among the fibers suitable for this are cotton, linen, nylon, and polyester, according to experts from australia assignment help.

Also, if you wash your clothes at home, either by machine or hand washing, let your vintage clothes dry on something flat. The fabrics can stretch if you hang them, so it is better to lay some clean towels on your floor and let the clothes dry.

Hand Washing

Hand washing is the gentlest way to wash your vintage garments. It will take you more time and effort, but this is an important step if you want to preserve and increase the life of your vintage clothes. Some detergents are specially designed for vintage garments, such as Retro Wash or Retro Clean.

The process is quite simple: you just have to dissolve the detergent with hot water and soak your clothes. Gently press on your clothes until the water becomes yellow. This is the point when you have to drain the water and replace it with a clean one. Repeat the process until the water stays clean and there is no soap residue.

Among the fibers that should be hand washed are rayon, crepe, silk, or any other fibers that have embroidery or hand-made details. These are usually very delicate and machine washing them is not recommended.
A tip that is valid for any type of washing, be it hand or machine washing, is to zip all the zippers and close all the buttons. Like this, you prevent your vintage clothes from tearing.

Dry Cleaning

Dry cleaning is another option available and recommended for cleaning your vintage garments. Many fibers were not pre-washed, so their first encounter with water might have some negative consequences. The colors might get mixed up, the fabric can shrink or stretch from the weight of water.

This is why dry cleaning is the best solution for some vintage clothes. It is advisable to ask professionals for help, as they have much experience with preserving and caring for old clothes. Keep in mind that some fabrics are not suited for dry cleanings, such as fur, leather, or antique silks.

Keep Your Old Garments Away from Light

This is valid advice not only for vintage clothes but for all of them. Long exposure to light causes the colors to fade away, which would be not something desirable. The best way to keep your old clothes fresh is in your closet. Be careful and do not use hangers too often, as they usually leave unaesthetic marks on clothes, says a study by write my essay.

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Conclusion

Having vintage garments comes with responsibility. The clothing pieces are so beautiful and some of them even have detailed and handmade embroidery that adds a touch of personality. However, because they were made many years ago when the industry was not so developed, you need to pay extra care.

Pay attention when you need to wash them and always let them dry before. Some fabrics are suited for machine washing, others for handwashing, and some just for dry cleaning. Pay attention and inform beforehand to prevent your clothes from tearing or being ripped apart.

Keep your vintage clothes away from light and use clothes hangers only for limited amounts of time, as they can do worse than good. Let your clothes dry on flat surfaces and pay attention to every detail. Vintage garments are so nice, interesting, beautiful, and full of history, and taking good care of them is a must.