Everything you need to know about caring for your vintage collection

Orvus is marketed as quilt soap - and dog wash! but it works very well for vintage textiles.

 

Oh what a wonderful resource! I very much enjoyed reading it.

My mother gave me some dubbin many years ago for vintage leather (it used to be used regularly in the 40s & 50s and probably even before then). It works particularly well for dry and cracked leathers, shoes, handbags, belts etc. Not for use on suede or nubuck though. It is oil based so any leather that will spoil with a drop of oily liquid is a no go.

 

I learn something every time I read it.

 

Thanks , Great resources

 

Fantastic! You had me hooked on the introduction page with the rule "When in doubt, don't". Love that!!

 

so regarding spot cleaning ... I have had good success with that depending on the fabrics of course. Also I'm talking mid century to modern seldom earlier unless it is sturdy colorfast wool. I blot with a clean, white, absorbent cotton cloth and whatever cleaning solution is best suited to the textile. I feather out quite a ways which seriously reduces or eliminates the "ring" issue and I often spot clean in stages letting it dry before the next round. Spot cleaning before laundering makes a big difference for me. Indeed some stains and spots are permanent but some are not. I can sometimes tell by pressing a damp Q-tip to the spot and seeing if it lifts off anything. Fingers crossed, I have never ruined anything with careful spot cleaning but I have saved a number of things. Having said all that I Never spot clean items that are delicate, old, have a pile finish or an "industry" finish, no leather, silks are generally off limits and I always test for dye fastness. I defiantly apply the when in doubt rule.