Reworking and refreshing vintage

[softgrey]

can't you just do it a couple of times?...

 

[utopia]

Originally posted by softgrey@Dec 1 2004, 07:38 PM
can't you just do it a couple of times?...

[snapback]446596[/snapback]​

no, I've tried actually. for coats, it tends to mask the smell, but it doesn't get rid of it. a couple of proper dry cleanings are best for coats I think. though dryel is a dream for everything else. I buy so much vintage that the dry cleaning bills would be ridiculous. so much cheaper, and much less trouble.

 

[softgrey]

yes...dryel is so great...it's just a pain to find it in the city...because so few epople actually own a washer/dryer, very few store stock the product...it's always a special trip to k-mart...but as you said...soooo worth it in what i save on dry cleaning...

 

[softgrey]

OOOOh...that SMELL...vintage mustiness...!!

how do you get the SMELL out of VINTAGE clothing???...

i was shopping in a very high end vintage store recently and came very close to buying a lovely ysl peasant bls from the 70's...

but the smell... ...


i asked the girl at the store for tips on getting it gone...
she said she is so immune to it that she doesn't even smell it anymore...

while i am sure that is true...
i am also sure that the people who might stand or sit next to me wearing that bls are NOT immune, nor am i...

dry cleaning does not remove odors...
so what does??...
if an item cannot be launderd by hand, what are your options...??

FABREZE?...
putting it outside to air out?...
anything else?...

ALL IDEAS AND TIPS mucho APPRECIATED...
thx...

 

[Scott]

Oh,I dunno. I admit I am quite immune to it myself

 

[helena]

I would suggest hanging outside in a breeze softgrey (your deck?). I am not a fan of spaying something on to mask the odor. That seems a bit skanky doesn't it. Like the dirty parisians of the past who sprayed perfume onto their smelly bodies to obscure the stink. No try hanging outside & then getting drycleaned & then storing with lavendar scented bags or in a cupboard lined with scented paper. That should do the trick. The smell isn't so bad I don't think anyway.

 

[juzuxel]

I have heard (and tried) this trick: Take warm water and but a little pit of etiquette to the water then put your clothing item there and wait for a while and then put it to the washing machine.. It works. I think this trick was in Queer eye for a straight guy

 

[softgrey]

^^^
first...what do you mean by etiquette????....
are you joking?...

second...i am referring specifically to garments which cannot be LAUNDERED...
meaning -cannot go in water...

 

[Curious]

Good question!!

I don't have a tried and true method, but what Helena suggests makes sense to me. The good ole air dry

Juzuxel - Interesting! I'm assuming this is only for machine washables? Where do you place the clothing item in relation to the steam bath? Do you hang it over it? I don't completely understand... Thanks

 

[helena]

softgrey thats the other option....i do it often myself - hang the clothes over a steamy bath. Its more to get creases out but it may help odour too.

juzuxel - i think you may have used the wrong words to describe what you mean. Maybe you could try again esp. if you have tried it.

 

[softgrey]

helena...
i find that the steam actually releases and intensifies the odour...

 

[helena]

yes you might be right - as i said I do it mainly to get rid of creases (esp. on holiday & I have no iron).

 

[henriette]

so you're postitive it would bleed or be ruined in water? you'd be surprised what i've washed in water....antique silk peasant blouses, wool gabardine '40s jackets, voile '30s dresses. I know, it sounds crazy, but its true. after I do a cold water rinse in mild soap & water, i take it to the dry-cleaners for a press, and even the jackets and coats turn out beautifully.

depends on how much you paid for it though. sounds like the ysl blouse might bleed. use your best judgement on this one...

 

[stilista]

I bought a Vivienne Westwood jacket recently & it absolutely reeked of the woman's pungent incense filled shop mixed with "that vintage smell".

I looked up tips on getting rid of it, and someone said hang it outside in the sun. Don't know why the sun is an important part of it, but after 3 days of it hanging outside, the smell has almost gone. Not completely, but almost...so maybe another few days will rid it of the odour entirely.

Maybe you could try this, then have it dry cleaned?

 

[softgrey]

thanks everyone...
so far...hanging it outside in the sun has been the most successful...
so crazy...it's so basic...i just thought there must be SOME other way...

henriette...i know what you mean...
i wash all my cashmere and lots of things you aren't 'supposed' to...
but sometimes you just can't...you know?...
like with a coat or blzr...
and sometiimes there is a finish on the fabric that would be ruined by laundering...

i usually only buy vintage that i can machine or hand wash to 'disinfect' it...
but i'd like to have more options, you know?..

thanks again everyone...
*goes to hang some stuff outside...*

 

[Hanne]

I agree w. all of helena's suggestions that's what I do as well..

but something just struck me..if there is an "off" smell in the refigerator and cleaning it doesn't remove it ..adding wet coffee grime (?) "swallows" up the smell..maybe you could conceal the item in a box w. a cup of wet coffee beans..then again it might just end up smelling of coffee instead..which I guess is a lot better than the smell of vintage mushiness.

 

[softgrey]

yes...
good idea hanne...
i think i do have to stuff it in a box with something that will absorb the smell somehow...
helena suggested that too...but lavendar doesn't agree with me...
wet coffee grinds is actually a very clever idea...
as long as i can keep them off the garments......

 

[Curious]

I never knew of the coffee grinds trick Learn something new everyday! We've always used baking soda...

 

[Hanne]

I never knew of the coffee grinds trick Learn something new everyday! We've always used baking soda...

Dont get too carried away Curious..I'm not sure it will work..but it's worth a try

 

[softgrey]

well...
we KNOW it works in the FRIDGE...