do not take cotton dresses for granted

debutanteclothing

debutanteclothing

VFG Board Member
I always feel very confident about washing cotton dresses in the machine. Gentle cycle, gentle detergent (Ivory Snow, Woolite, etc.) and bam! Done.

Well, I washed a textured cotton dress today and it faded considerably. AND, I think I noticed a small tear in the skirt where the hem came undone. I'm pretty sure it wasn't there before.

The moral: BE GENTLE! Even with cotton.:cry:
 
How old was the dress, Sandra? I handwash any cotton dresses pre 1960, and even some post 1960 if they look somewhat delicate...

So sorry you had this bad experience. Can you salvage it for sale still?
 
What a great cleaner find! I really need to find a new dry cleaner. I wonder if the older dry cleaners would be good to try. I've never dry cleaned cotton, but it would be nice to have everything steamed and perfect and ready to be hung once I picked it up. I hate prepping.
 
I don't how many of you know/knew Susan (vintage Peacock) but a few years ago on another board she shared some of her cleaning tips (this is a woman who will wash rayon crepe in water because she has this crazy way of getting them to retain their shape with minimal shrinkage) with us.

"from my experience....and I've been doing it this way for 35 years or so.......vinegar works. I always use vinegar for vintage "might bleed" things. And I never wash black, blue, navy, red or purple NEW items without a vinegar soak first. I've never, ever had a dye run.

I use approx. 1 cup white vinegar to 1 gal water. Put it in a clean PLASTIC dishpan or GLASS bowl. Then I put the blouse or whatever in there making sure its all down in the water. I use a heavy vintage crockery plate to weigh down the fabric. Sink it right down in there.

Let it soak about 1/2 hour.

Another trick: I keep a spray bottle filled with vinegar and will spray soak colored trim & such before washing. Example: black piping on a white dress. "

This really does work. Really.
Sometimes if I have really bright prints I'll just do straight vin, no water on that 1st soak.
I hand wash everything vintage, never use the washer since ulness things are really bad they only need a fast soak in some suds and a rinse.
 
I have been looking for this vinegar recipe for months. I remember reading this tip and it was driving me crazy because I knew Susan swore by it. Thanks Julie!

Up until now, I hadn't had a problem with washing cottons on delicate. it was the extended soak without a vinegar bath that I think did it.

thanks again!
 
I think that's a great idea - washing is so important for those of us who love, wear and care for vintage. I love the vinegar tips and will be doing those for sure - I hand wash everything except 60s-70s polyesters and poly cottons. All my cottons get hand washed because I've had too many colour runs and colour fades. It's extra work but it saves tears later.

Nicole
 
Sounds familiar :bouncy: - I know this all from my vintage Barbie clothes... fading, bleeding etc. etc. even from washing them by hand. And yes, vintage Barbie collectors sear by the vinegar method too ;).

It hasn't happened to me so far thankfully with my own vintage clothes. The reason I love vintage polys - wash'n wear *lol*!

Karin
 
I use those garment care bags on almost all my vintage - but I've wrecked a thing or two - it's so sad :( I know how you feel!
 
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