If you are what you wear, then wearing vintage is one of the best ways to convey who you are without saying a word. Each piece tells a story and so in a way, you can become one of the storytellers. Forever passionate about the history of fashion, its evolution and ultimately, the care of each garment, The Laundress cofounders Gwen and Lindsey are committed to the preservation of iconic pieces and vintage treasures. Keep reading to learn how to care for your own vintage finds.
BEADED & SEQUIN BEAUTIES
Gather These Tools: Stain Solution, Wash & Stain Bar, Scented Vinegar, Delicate Wash, Delicate Spray, Hanging Storage Bag STEP 1: Pretreat Treat stains with Stain Solution or the Wash & Stain Bar. Focus on susceptible areas such as underarms, necklines, and cuffs. Stain Solution is ideal for protein and tannin stains, such as wine, coffee, ink, grass, urine, blood, and old, set-in stains such as pit stains. Wash & Stain Bar works the material to remove dirt, grease, oil, and makeup. STEP 2: Deodorize Over time, older pieces are bound to hold onto odor but the good news is these smells won't outlive your garment. To remove them, presoak the item for 30 minutes in a mixture of cool water and 1/4 cup of Scented Vinegar. STEP 3: Launder We always recommend handwashing embellished pieces. To do so, add a squirt of Delicate Wash to a wash basin or sink full of cool water. Submerge the item and gently agitate with your hands so the piece is sufficiently treated with the soapy mixture. Let soak for 30 minutes. STEP 4: Rinse Rinse your piece with cool water. Do not wring or overstress the item, but rather gently press the water out. This will help protect it from deformation or dislodge any of the embellishment. STEP 5: Dry Lay your item flat in its natural shape to dry on a drying rack or hang to dry. Never use a dryer as the process is too harsh for delicate pieces. STEP 6: Finish We recommend using a steamer to remove any remaining wrinkles once your piece has dried. If you don't own a have a steamer, carefully use your iron on the steam setting and gently hover it over the top of the garment. STEP 7: Ongoing Care To keep your item fresh in between washes, spritz with Delicate Spray, which includes antibacterial properties to keep odors at bay. Because beaded items are typically heavy, we recommend folding and storing your piece in a breathable cotton storage bag to protect from dust, mildew, and discoloration.
CREPE & SILK STANDOUTS
Gather These Tools: Stain Solution, Wash & Stain Bar, Scented Vinegar, Delicate Wash, Delicate Spray, Hanging Storage Bag STEP 1: Test The Item; While silk can be safely handwashed, occasionally the dies are unstable for washing. Additionally, finishes such as a smooth hand can be compromised when washing. To protect your garment, perform a water test on a small area. STEP 2: Pretreat If your item passed the water test, proceed with pretreating stains using Stain Solution or the Wash & Stain Bar. Focus on susceptible areas such as underarms, necklines, and cuffs. Stain Solution is ideal for protein and tannin stains, such as wine, coffee, ink, grass, urine, blood, and old, set-in stains such as pit stains. Wash & Stain Bar works the material to remove dirt, grease, oil, and makeup. STEP 3: Deodorize To remove any odors or smells that have sunk into your garment, presoak the item for 30 minutes in a mixture of cool water and ¼ cup of Scented Vinegar. The solution will neutralize and remove odors. STEP 4: Launder Handwashing is always the safest method for cleaning silk and/or crepe pieces. To do so, add a squirt of Delicate Wash to a wash basin or sink full of cool water. Submerge the item and gently agitate with your hands so the piece is sufficiently treated with the soapy mixture. Let soak for 30 minutes. STEP 5: Rinse Rinse your piece with cool water. Do not wring or overstress the item, but rather gently press the water out. This will help protect it from deformation or marking the fabric. STEP 6: Dry Lay your item flat in its natural shape to dry on a drying rack or hang to dry. Never use a dryer as the process is too harsh for delicate pieces. STEP 7: Finish Most silk items will develop wrinkles after washing. We recommend steaming which not only removes wrinkles but also restores the fabric’s natural luster. If ironing, use the lowest heat setting possible and turn the item inside out while ironing. Using a damp cloth between the iron and the item is the safest method for avoiding burns or snags. STEP 8: Ongoing Care To keep your item fresh in between washes, spritz with Delicate Spray, which includes antibacterial properties to keep odors at bay. You may hang and store your silk piece in a storage breathing cotton hanging garment bag but be mindful of hanging clips, which can leave a mark on the material. The bag will protect from yellowing, bugs, and mildew.
WOOL WONDERS
Gather These Tools: Wash & Stain Bar, Stain Solution, Lint-Free Cleaning Cloth, Scented Vinegar, Wool & Cashmere Shampoo, Wool & Cashmere Spray, Sweater Comb, Sweater Stone, All-Purpose Storage Bag (Jackets & Blazers) STEP 1: Spot Treat When cleaning structured items like jackets and blazers, spot treating is recommended. Wet the Wash & Stain Bar into a lather and gently work into the stained area. Remove soap and dirt with a Lint-Free Cleaning Cloth. Dampen the cloth as needed to remove all of the soap. STEP 2: Finish Finish by steaming the item to remove dust and odors. (Sweaters, Throws, Etc.) STEP 1: Pretreat Treat stains with Stain Solution or the Wash & Stain Bar. Focus on susceptible areas such as underarms, necklines, and cuffs. Stain Solution is ideal for protein and tannin stains, such as wine, coffee, ink, grass, urine, blood, and old, set-in stains such as pit stains. The Wash & Stain Bar works the material to remove dirt, grease, oil, and makeup. STEP 2: Deodorize To remove unsavory odors, presoak the item for 30 minutes in a mixture of cool water and 1/4 cup of Scented Vinegar. STEP 3: Launder Handwashing is always the safest method for cleaning wool pieces. Contrary to popular belief, it's safer than dry-cleaning as that process can degrade yarns. Wool is also sensitive to water temperature and may shrink if not treated properly. Add a squirt of Wool & Cashmere Shampoo to a wash basin or sink full of cool water. Submerge the item and gently agitate with your hands so the piece is sufficiently treated with the soapy mixture. Let soak for 30 minutes. STEP 4: Rinse Rinse your piece with cool water until there's no longer soapy suds visible in the water. If there's a slight color in the water, don't panic. The yarns are simply releasing excess dye and you won't notice any missing color when the washing process is complete. STEP 5: Dry Lay your item flat in its natural shape to dry on a drying rack or hang to dry. Never use a dryer. You may expedite the drying processes by laying the item on a flat clean towel. With the item in its original shape, roll it up in the towel (like you're rolling a sleeping bag) to release excess water. When drying, avoid direct sunlight or heat sources, such as a radiator, because that can cause yellowing, shrinkage, or other damage. Never hang woolens to dry as the hanger can cause the item to lose its? structure. STEP 6: Finish We recommend using a steamer to remove any remaining wrinkles. Never use an iron as it can crush or ruin the natural pile of the yarns. STEP 7: Ongoing Care In between washes, use Wool & Cashmere Spray to freshen woolens. To de-pill items, we recommend our Sweater Stone for heavier woolens and thick gauge yarns and our Sweater Stone for delicate knits & fine gauge woolens. To use either, lay the item flat and brush the stone or comb gently in one direction, using short strokes. STEP 8: Storage Knit items should be stored folded to prevent stretching or distortion. Always store items clean to avoid providing a "food source" for bugs who are attracted to woolen pieces. To prevent moths, mildews, and yellowing, always store pieces in a breathable All-Purpose Storage Bag with a zip closure.
