Howdy,
I have a restoration or at least cleaning project on my hands and I wanted some advice. In most situations, when something has mildew or damage I just give it a whirl and hope for the best as when something's "that bad" one almost has nothing to lose. This time I do have something to lose.
My Guy's parents were going to throw out his dad's army coat years ago, but he saved it from the trash and I just found out about its existence. Unfortunately, at one time, it had a musty smell and probably some mildew on it. It has been hanging in a dry garage for several years now so its dry. My first instinct is to put a mask on and brush any dry mold spores off, then stuff the arms with newspaper to try to remove any additional smell before proceeding just to see what I have on my hands. Then, check the sleeves, pockets for anything frayed or damaged to make sure it is stable enough for cleaning and tack those things down.
There is a wool gab cavalry jacket that doesn't need help - but it could be easily dry cleaned if needed but I am sort of stuck on what to do for the flak jacket. I have yet to hold it in my hands (have handled the more formal jacket) so can't tell if its wool or a cotton duck, etc. In fact, I would be a bit more in my element on maybe WWII stuff, but this would be early Vietnam - pre 1967 so I don't know what fabrics were used but will find out this weekend when I have it in my hands.
Some methods call for washing in an oxy type cleaner or preparing an ammonia solution for mildew, but I am erring on the side of extreme caution. The jacket is well used. It was used around a farm for a bit after the war before being retired, so I expect it is not in mint condition but its extremely sentimental. Therefore, I don't want to cause further damage. I think a jacket in that condition a dry cleaner would laugh at or the very least might get more damaged. I thought about soaking it - but that can't really be accomplished as well in a front load washing machine. Oh and of course there is probably layers of dust.
Anyway, if I found this jacket somewhere, I wouldn't be such a nervous nelly about it , but since its sort of a family heirloom/memory of sorts I want to "not mess things up so bad".
So...where would you begin? Or just go for it? The goal is to make it so that it can exist in the house with other clothes and not contaminate anything else in the worst case scenario and best case scenario is making it clean and wearable without further damage.
I will take photos throughout the adventure, just won't have anything til after the weekend.
I have a restoration or at least cleaning project on my hands and I wanted some advice. In most situations, when something has mildew or damage I just give it a whirl and hope for the best as when something's "that bad" one almost has nothing to lose. This time I do have something to lose.
My Guy's parents were going to throw out his dad's army coat years ago, but he saved it from the trash and I just found out about its existence. Unfortunately, at one time, it had a musty smell and probably some mildew on it. It has been hanging in a dry garage for several years now so its dry. My first instinct is to put a mask on and brush any dry mold spores off, then stuff the arms with newspaper to try to remove any additional smell before proceeding just to see what I have on my hands. Then, check the sleeves, pockets for anything frayed or damaged to make sure it is stable enough for cleaning and tack those things down.
There is a wool gab cavalry jacket that doesn't need help - but it could be easily dry cleaned if needed but I am sort of stuck on what to do for the flak jacket. I have yet to hold it in my hands (have handled the more formal jacket) so can't tell if its wool or a cotton duck, etc. In fact, I would be a bit more in my element on maybe WWII stuff, but this would be early Vietnam - pre 1967 so I don't know what fabrics were used but will find out this weekend when I have it in my hands.
Some methods call for washing in an oxy type cleaner or preparing an ammonia solution for mildew, but I am erring on the side of extreme caution. The jacket is well used. It was used around a farm for a bit after the war before being retired, so I expect it is not in mint condition but its extremely sentimental. Therefore, I don't want to cause further damage. I think a jacket in that condition a dry cleaner would laugh at or the very least might get more damaged. I thought about soaking it - but that can't really be accomplished as well in a front load washing machine. Oh and of course there is probably layers of dust.
Anyway, if I found this jacket somewhere, I wouldn't be such a nervous nelly about it , but since its sort of a family heirloom/memory of sorts I want to "not mess things up so bad".
So...where would you begin? Or just go for it? The goal is to make it so that it can exist in the house with other clothes and not contaminate anything else in the worst case scenario and best case scenario is making it clean and wearable without further damage.
I will take photos throughout the adventure, just won't have anything til after the weekend.
