I’ve been using this time off work to make my way through my boxes of vintage that needs laundering. I’m kinda new to this and it’s definitely a learning process. I’ve already ruined quite a few things just with water. Things that I thought would be fine in water and then when I take it out and dry it I realize there is a splotch of dye now gone from the garment. Are there any indicators that a fabric will do this? I’ve had it happen to wool, cotton and satiny type fabrics too. Any insight welcome I can’t keep getting hit with all this heartbreak
Awww. I feel for you! I'd start by reading this post on our site: https://vintagefashionguild.org/care-and-cleaning/part-3-sorting-and-cleaning/ ...especially notice the part about dye fastness, and the things you can't wash. Not to toot my own horn, but I wrote quite about about vintage care in my book, you might want to check that out too.
I lost a lovely cashmere sweater that way. Testing for dye fastness with a moist cotton swab will help weed out some things. But on the whole, if you get it wet, you take a risk. Over time, and costly trial and error, I have gotten a feel for what might be best left alone. So I try to err on the safe side now!
