Underarm staining - what do do with the dress?

blubirdboutique

blubirdboutique

Registered Guest
Hello all :)

I have quite a few dresses from the 40s and 50s that have the dreaded underarm yellow staining. Any ideas what to do with these dresses? Some of them are quite lovely of course! A few of the wedding dresses I thought maybe.... sell them as costumes? I am thinking vintage zombie brides and such :)

Would you just donate them or throw them out?

Thanks!
 
I would definitely take a chance and try to clean them yourself. Here is a link with some good tips.

It says:

"How do I get the rid of the yellow?
First, be certain that your shirt is washable. If it says dry clean only, believe the tag. Dry clean after each wearing to prevent yellowing. If your shirt is white and washable, here are two methods to try. Success will depend upon how old the stains are and the fabric content of your shirt – cotton whitens best.

* 1:1:1 – One part baking soda, one part peroxide, one part water. Make a solution of the three ingredients. You will need about 1/4 cup each of baking soda, peroxide and water to treat one shirt. Protect the countertop with a thick white towel, rub 1:1:1 solution into stains and allow to work for at least 30 minutes. Use an old soft toothbrush or bristle brush to loosen any residue and then wash as usual in warm or cold water.
* 1:1 – One part oxygen-based detergent (OxiClean), one part ammonia. In a well-ventilated room, wearing rubber gloves, mix solution well – about 2 tablespoons of each ingredient per shirt. Again, protecting countertop with thick white towel, rub solution into stains for at least 30 seconds. Wash as usual in warm or cold water.

For light colored shirts (blue, yellow, pink) test the solutions in an inconspicuous spot – perhaps along a hem – before trying the treatments under the arms. If there is no fading, proceed as for white shirts.

Darker colors may have stiffness or residue on the fabric under the arms. To remove the build-up and freshen the garments, fill the washing machine with cool water and add one cup of white vinegar. Allow shirts to soak for at least 30 minutes. Drain vinegar water and wash as usual in cool water.

Follow these directions and you’ll wonder where the yellow went when you’re dressing for your next event!"
 
Thanks for the tips! I have tried cleaning many of the dresses with staining with no luck whatsoever. I haven't tried those particular methods though so I will give it a shot before I get rid of them. Most of the fabrics aren't cotton, though. Rayon mostly, taffeta.
 
Have had good luck w a product called M30. Just make sure to test first. It says for all washable fabrics but have used on other types as last resort with some good results.
 
Another thing to consider is cleansers intended for pet stains - the ones that contain enzymes that EAT bacterial stains/odors. Try looking at Whole Foods, Petco (or other pet supply stores), etc. You want one that advises you to keep the product WET on the affected area for a minimum of time - these enzymes ONLY work when they're wet as they're a living bacteria.

Another option, if the dress is worth the repairs, is to have the armholes broadened by a seamstress - thereby completely REMOVING the affected areas :D
 
All of the suggestions already given work well sometimes on some things. What a wealth of experience and information our members have.

Sometimes by diligently searching inside a dress, or by facing a hem, you can find enough material to make underarm gussets. Then you can just cut out the stained area. They require some sewing skill, but are worth it for some things. Older sewing instruction books have examples of different types and instructions. They do not show when worn, and often actually improve fit by opening up the armseye slightly.

A lot of rayon crepe dresses can be wet washed. I use oxyclean a lot in soaking. They shrink up, scaring you and have that wet rayon smell, but steam out to original size very well when dry. Then do some touch up ironing from the back, of course. You might try it on one of the least valuable and least embellished dresses.

You have to balance out your time, cost of chemicals and what you think a garment could be worth, too. But some treasures are worth working on, if just for your own satisfaction in rescuing them.

Good luck,

Marian,
http://www.vintagevanitiesclothing.com/
 
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