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Step 1
Vintage clothing fans usually find themselves in one of two situations:
Your vintage garment has a care label. If you are lucky, the care label on your vintage garment is intact. A care label is a label inside of your clothes that will explain how you should care for it. It is usually located near or on the reverse side of the size label. If you can read the care label, follow the instructions precisely.
Your vintage garment’s care label is missing or unreadable. Unfortunately, more often that not, the care label on a vintage garment is missing or is so badly faded you will not be able to read it. Also, some vintage clothing you purchase may be hand sewn so there would be no care label. In those cases, your options are to machine wash, hand wash, or dry clean. -
Step 2
Machine wash cotton, polyester, lycra, and nylon. Machine washing your vintage clothes is the most economical option. Before placing any vintage garments in the washer, turn them inside out. Additionally, use a milder laundry detergent for any vintage garments. Natural fabrics such as cotton can be machine washed in warm water but vintage denim should be washed in cold water. Dry cotton garments in the dryer at a low temperate. Synthetic fabrics such as polyester, lycra, and nylon can also be machine washed in warm water but place them on a drying rack to dry rather than putting them in the dryer. A collapsible drying rack can be bought at any discount department store. Look for them in the section of the store where laundry supplies such as irons, hangers, and laundry bags are sold.
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Step 3
Hand wash silk, rayon, and lace. Hand washing your vintage garments is another option but it is a little more labor intensive. Delicate fabrics like silk, rayon, and lace can be hand washed in cold water with a mild detergent such as Woolite. Place your vintage garment in a clean sink or plastic tub. Wash vintage garments one at a time in case your garment bleeds. Rise with cold water. Place your vintage garment on a clean towel and roll up the towel to soak up any excess water. Let the garment air dry on a drying rack away from the sun.
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Step 4
Dry clean suede, wool, acetate velvet, and any vintage garment that has a decorative embellishment. Dry cleaning refers to a process where clothes are cleaned using solvents rather than water. It is the most expensive option for cleaning your vintage garments but will most likely make them last longer. Fabrics such as suede, wool, acetate, velvet, and any vintage garment that a decorative embellishment such as beading, embroidery, sequins, appliqués, or fringe should be sent to a professional dry cleaner. Although silk and rayon can be hand washed, dry cleaning may help them last longer.
