How to Wash Vintage Clothes Like a Pro

Last updated on May 25th, 2024 at 07:50 pm

Home » Vintage Fashion Guide » How to Wash Vintage Clothes Like a Pro

If you want to ensure that your vintage clothes remain in excellent condition, it is crucial to clean them properly. One of the best ways to do this is to hand-wash them using a delicate detergent. This method is not only gentle on the fabric but also ensures that the colours don’t fade and the fabric doesn’t shrink.

It is recommended to wash each item separately, even if the label on the vintage clothing suggests that it can be machine washed. This is because the agitation and high temperatures of a washing machine can cause damage to the delicate fibres of vintage clothing.

how to take care of vintage clothes
How to wash vintage clothes!

In this article, you’ll discover the secrets of washing vintage clothes like a pro. You’ll also learn how to remove yellow stains and red wine spots from your precious vintage garments. Additionally, you’ll find out which vintage fabrics can and can’t be hand-washed, and what detergent is best suited for vintage delicates. I’ll share my tips on how to clean vintage clothes with precision and care so that you don’t cause any damage to the fabric.

How to Wash Vintage Clothes – In a Nutshell

Remember these helpful tips for washing vintage clothes:

  • Check the Label: Look for care instructions on the clothing label to determine the best cleaning method. Please note, that before 1971, care tags on vintage clothes were not mandatory.
  • Colour Bleed: You should always check for a colour bleed before you immerse washable clothes in water. [Keep reading to find out how to do it without causing any damage to the fabric.]
  • Spot Treat Stains: Gently dab stain remover (homemade remedies) on any stains before washing. I discuss this in detail further in the article.
  • Turn Garments Inside Out: Protect delicate prints and fabrics by turning clothes inside out before washing. Apply this rule to vintage clothes that can be washed in a washing machine, although I always advocate hand washing!
  • Select Gentle Cycle: Use a gentle cycle on your washing machine to prevent damage to vintage fabrics. I would never machine was anything made before the 1970s.
  • Use Tepid Water: Hand wash vintage clothes in tepid water to preserve colours and prevent shrinking.
  • Choose Mild Detergent: Opt for a gentle detergent to clean without harsh chemicals and the need for rinsing to save water. I only ever use one particular washing liquid for all my vintage and lingerie pieces. [Keep reading to find out what it is and how to use it]
  • Air Dry: Hang vintage clothes to air dry instead of using a dryer to prevent shrinking and fading.
  • Iron Carefully: Use a low heat setting and iron inside out to avoid damaging delicate vintage fabrics. Never use iron on vintage clothes embellished with sequins or beads. Gelatin sequins on the 1920s and 1930s clothes will melt if you expose them to water or heat.
  • Store Properly: Keep vintage clothes in a cool, dark, and dry place preferably in Tyvek covers.

best detergent to clean vintage
How to wash vintage clothes.

If you are new to the It’s Beyond My Control blog, welcome!

Most of my clothes (about 95%) are from the 1930s to the late 1950s and need special care when it comes to washing, cleaning and storing. You can, of course, apply all the tips presented in this article to clothes made much later.


how to date vintage clothes

RELATED ARTICLE

HOW TO DATE VINTAGE CLOTHES

If you are not sure about the age of your vintage garment, and there are no care tags attached, take a look at the in-depth article I wrote about dating vintage clothes.

DISCLOSURE; As of October 2021 (one year after I published this article), I’m part of an affiliate program and I get a commission for purchases made through some of the links in this post. When you buy a product via the link in my post, you are helping to keep my website alive for which I’m very grateful!


Beginner’s Guide to Washing Vintage Clothing

Washing vintage clothes can be a challenging task, but it is essential to preserve their quality and longevity. To ensure that your vintage garments remain in optimal condition, it is crucial to adhere to proper cleaning techniques. Please, be very careful when implementing any of the tips provided in this article. If you are not 100% sure about the content of the fabric in your garment, speak to an experienced dry cleaner.

How to clean vintage clothes

Proceed With Caution When Washing Vintage Clothes


Expert Tips For Cleaning Vintage Clothes

Expert tips for washing vintage clothes.

  • Can I hand wash all vintage clothes? No! There are vintage fabrics that should never come into contact with water because of a high possibility of shrinkage or fabric bleed. If you hand wash a crepe-textured vintage garment or wool, it might survive the bath but it will only fit a child. Same with Cashmere. However, the latter can be reshaped with a soak in cold water and a few tablespoons of hair conditioner. I managed to reshape the 1940s CC41 rayon dress with the help of a cheap drugstore hair conditioner.
CC41 Utility Clothing Scheme. Vintage fashion blog.
As you can see, the CC41 dress is a little bit too short on me. I’m 5’10 and I think that this particular dress would look best on someone who was 5’7. I don’t like to show my knees but occasionally, I have seen pictures of women in the 1940s in dresses ending above the knees just like mine.
  • Is it 100% safe to send vintage clothes to the dry cleaner? The simple answer is, no. It would be best if you only used a dry cleaner experienced in handling vintage and antique clothes. And even that’s not a guarantee that your vintage garment won’t be damaged in the process. Antique and vintage silk might shatter or deteriorate over time. It might be because of the quality of the fabric, dry rot or bad storage practices.
how to wash vintage clothes like a pro
How to wash vintage clothes like a pro!

Fabric shrinkage and bleeding are the two main catastrophes that may occur when washing & drying vintage clothes the wrong way.

NEVER WASH VINTAGE SEQUINS
Never use water on vintage velvet, moire pattern, crepe or sequins ( especially if they are made of gelatine), because they will melt! Sequins can also be damaged during dry-cleaning so my advice would be NOT to clean any garment embellished with sequins. Spot cleaning is the only option.

COLOUR BLEED MIGHT OCCUR WHEN WASHIN VINTAGE FABRIC
•Use a wet Q-tip and rub the colours you want to test for bleed. If the colour transfer occurs do NOT immerse the garment in the water!


I’m always extremely careful when hand-washing vintage but mistakes happen, even to me.

Once, I didn’t think to do a test on the label attached to my 1950s dress and of course, a bleed occurred. Luckily, only the inner side of the white collar suffered from the red tag attack.

I took a close-up picture of the damage to show you what happens when you don’t ‘think pink’ when washing white clothes with a red tag.

how to wash vintage clothes

Understanding Vintage Fabric

Different fabrics require different care and cleaning methods to ensure the longevity of the garment. By familiarizing yourself with the various fabric types commonly found in vintage clothing, you can better preserve and care for your treasured pieces.

Can I wash vintage clothes in a washing machine?

how to wash vintage clothes like a pro
Picture from Google Arts & Culture. ‘American Housewife’ Life magazine, 1941.
  • If your garment is from the 1970s or later it will definitely have a care label unless it fell off. Vintage fabrics from the 70s and the 80s that can be machine-washed on a delicate wash cycle.
  • Pure Vintage polyester (my most hated fabric!) can be machine-washed.
  • Pure vintage linen- you can try machine washing on a very delicate cycle but as is the case with cotton, shrinkage may occur.
  • Cotton can be washed in warm but not hot water.

PRO TIPS FOR WASHING VINTAGE CLOTHES

Please note that there is always the risk that a print on vintage fabric might fade if you wash it in a washing machine and there is always the risk of shrinkage.

I strongly advise that you always choose to hand wash your vintage clothes over machine washing, even if the latter is acceptable. Why risk accidental damage? You will prolong the life of your precious clothes by caring for them the proper way.

I always place the new-to-me vintage garments made of wool in the freezer for at least 24-48 hours to avoid the risk of a moth infestation!


How to store vintage clothes the right way.

RELATED ARTICLE

For the purpose of giving my readers the best advice on storing vintage, I interviewed a textile conservator with over twenty-five years of experience in handling antique textiles in museums.

I hope that the article will help answer all your questions regarding the dos and don’ts when it comes to storing vintage clothes the proper way.


Handwashing Vintage Clothes Step-by-Step Instructions

best detergent for washing lingerie
How to wash vintage clothes!

How to handwash vintage clothes? Steps for hand washing vintage clothes like a pro:

  • Hand wash one vintage item at a time!
  • Before you immerse vintage clothes in water, always follow my recommendation for checking for colour bleed (instruction above) and possible shrinkage.
  • You should always hand-wash vintage clothes in a clean sink because you don’t want dirt or possible grease to transfer onto your clothes.
  • Never Wash Vintage Clothes in Hot Water.
  • Remember, only ever wash delicate vintage garments in tepid water. And for the love of all vintage, fill the sink with water before you put your clothes in it. I can’t stress this enough, don’t risk placing your vintage garment under running water or you may cause damage to the fabric!
  • Vintage fabrics that can be hand-washed are; cotton, rayon, pure silk and pure wool, although I always send my woollen garments to the dry cleaner.
  • Metal can rust in water and some of the vintage sellers I know do as far as removing the zipper beforehand. I don’t go to that extreme but be aware that this may happen.
  • Consider removing buttons.

To wash vintage clothes like a pro use my favourite detergent for the job, Eucalan, a gentle and all-natural formula that won’t harm your precious vintage garments. 

  • To use Eucalan, start by filling a basin with lukewarm water. Add half a cup of the detergent, choosing your favourite scent (I personally recommend jasmine for a lovely floral fragrance or lavender for its moth-repelling properties). 
  • Place your vintage clothes in the basin and let them soak for 15 minutes, allowing the detergent to work its magic. 
  • After the soak, gently squeeze out any excess water – there’s no need to rinse, so you’ll be conserving water as well as keeping your clothes safe. 
  • Next, lay out a clean towel and carefully place your vintage clothes on top. 
  • Roll up the towel to remove any remaining water and then lay each garment flat on another clean, dry towel. 

With these easy steps, your vintage clothes will be clean, fresh, and ready to wear again!

how to wash vintage clothes step by step instructions.
How to wash vintage clothes. Image: Life Magazine 1947.

SHOP MY FAVOURITE DETERGENT FOR VINTAGE CLOTHES


Best Detergent for Handwashing Vintage Clothes

My personal favourite laundry detergent for washing vintage clothes!

Someone asked me recently about the type of detergent I use on vintage clothes that can be hand-washed, such as cotton. I love and can wholeheartedly recommend Eucalan Wrapture (Jasmine) or Lavender. The detergent smells divine and doesn’t require a rinse! I also use it to wash all my precious vintage and contemporary lingerie.


*Tip for making your clothes smell fresh!

I put a tiny amount of Eucalan into a travel-size spray bottle, mix it with water, and gently spray all my clothes hanging in the wardrobe. I avoid spraying it on clothes made of silk because of the danger of a water ring.

BUY EUCALAN LAVENDER HERE!

How to wash vintage clothes

How to Wash Vintage Lingerie

Take a look at an article I wrote with step-by-step instructions on how to wash delicate vintage and contemporary lingerie.

best detergent for delicates
How to wash vintage clothes! Best natural detergent for delicates.

How to Remove Stains From Vintage Clothes


What is the Best Stain Removal for Vintage Clothes?

Retro Clean is a little miracle worker that works wonders on yellow stains. It’s a very gentle cleaning product for all washable fabrics.

•Before you soak the garment in Retro Clean, wash it in Eucalan detergent or any other product you like and trust.
•Dissolve three tablespoons of Retro Clean in one gallon of warm but not hot water.
•Soak the garment in the water for anything from a few hours to 48 hours.
•Check the progress every now and again.


How to wash vintage clothes
How to wash vintage clothes. Retro Clean stain remover for all washable fabrics.

how to remove yellow stains from clothes and linens
How to wash vintage clothes! Retro Clean removed all the yellow stains from my bedspread.

Time needed: 5 minutes

Tips on How to Clean & Wash Vintage Clothes

  1. Prevent your vintage clothes from getting dirty! I always wear a Kleinert’s dress shield under a vintage garment.

    It’s easy to wash and I never have to worry about perspiration stains.

    taking care of vintage clothes

  2. The dry cleaner comes to the rescue when you are unsure how to clean vintage clothes.

    I urge anyone new to the world of vintage clothing, to get a recommendation from a well-established local vintage seller, as to the best dry-cleaners, experienced in handling antique and vintage garments!

    I dry clean all my 1940s and 1950s skirt suits made of wool. The only exception is the 1952 Handmacher suit with a decorative collar.
    1950s Handmacher suit

  3. Stain removal tips.

    The long-anticipated book, Wear Vintage Now! by Margaret Wilds is finally out! And it’s filled with handy tips on removing different types of spots, odours and wrinkles from vintage clothes. It’s a must-read for all the ladies who are starting their adventure in wearing vintage!How to clean vintage clothes.

  4. How to remove oil and grease spots.

    Brilliant advice from the Wear Vintage Now! book I wholeheartedly recommend to all of you.

    How to remove oil and grease from vintage clothes?
    ‘Wash out any new oil stains in warm water with dishwashing liquid (which is designed to pull out the grease) or laundry detergent, then wash the garment in the warmest water that is safe for it. Hang the item to dry, and do not use a dryer. Often an oil stain will seem to be gone when the item is still wet, so do not use an iron or dryer on an oil-stained item until you are positive the stain is out. In some cases, you will have to repeat the process. If a stain has an oily or waxy component along with another staining agent (such as coffee with cream or tomato sauce with olive oil) treat the oil stain first.

  5. How to remove wine and coffee stains.

    It depends on how fresh the stain is but as Margaret pointed out in her book, any stain remover will do. I sprinkled fresh wine spots on a pillow cover and upholstered sofa with salt and it worked like a charm but I wouldn’t recommend doing it on a vintage garment as the salt could damage the fabric. Perhaps it’s best to stay away from red beverages when wearing precious vintage. 😉how to remove wine spots from clothes

  6. How to clean vintage clothes! The miracle worker for fresh red wine stains!

    Carbona Stain Devils Coffee Tea & Juice stain remover saved my 1950s blouse. I don’t have a ‘before’ picture to show you, but trust me when I say it worked like a charm!how to clean vintage clothes


How to Get Rid of Odour in Vintage Clothes

I find that the best way to freshen up a vintage or antique velvet gown or cape is to hang it in a steamed bathroom. I always place a bowl filled with vinegar under the garment (I make sure that the clothing is not touching the liquid!) to get rid of the bad odour.

It’s not always with a 100% success rate but it definitely helps. This method is good for any type of fabric as long as it’s not in direct contact with vinegar. Baking soda is another little miracle worker in getting rid of unpleasant smells.

Some people advocate spraying clothes with vodka to get rid of bad odour. I’ve recently heard that in the long run, it can cause damage to the fabric. I will update this information when I gather more reliable data.

how to clean vintage clothes

For now, I shall keep vodka for my Cosmopolitan!

Find extra tips on caring for vintage in my article “How to take care of vintage clothes”


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42 Comments
  • Michelle
    September 3, 2023

    Hello! I’m new to the world of vintage, so I’m reading up on how to care for these garments to keep them in good condition and make them last. I really have enjoyed reading your blog and have already bought both some Eucalan and Retro Wash. I was wondering what you recommend for lubricating an old zipper on vintage clothes.

    • Dominique de Merteuil
      September 4, 2023

      Hello and welcome to the vintage fashion world! It’s great to hear that you enjoy reading my blog and I hope you’ll love Eucalan and Retro Wash as much as I do. Out of curiosity, which scent did you choose? If you’re dealing with a stubborn old zipper, a simple trick is to use candle wax. Just run the candle along the teeth of the zipper and it should work wonders. This technique has been passed down from my mom for 40 years, and I’ve found it to be very effective. If there’s any wax residue left, you can easily clean it off with an old toothbrush. By the way, some people use bar soap or graphite, but I recommend avoiding graphite as it can stain your fabric if not used carefully.

      • Michelle
        September 5, 2023

        Hello Dominique,
        Thanks for responding to my question. I bought the lavendar eucalan abd have already soaked some vintage clothes in it. It smells divine!

        • Dominique de Merteuil
          September 6, 2023

          I’m not entirely sure why, but I tend to use Eucalan jasmine in spring and summer and lavender in autumn and winter! Both smell divine!

  • Throwback Vault
    April 20, 2023

    I absolutely love reading your blogs!

  • Alison Cloonan
    October 4, 2022

    A great post on a hard topic of cleaning vintage clothes which I have found very useful. Will definitely look at that retro clean.

  • Sam
    May 25, 2022

    Thank you for recommending the Retro Clean detergent. How did I not know about it?! I was about to throw away my white cotton dress covered in yellow spots but the detergent helped.

  • Priscilla Garcia
    April 16, 2022

    Hi, Dominique, Thank you for the article, but I have a question. I brought a vintage black slip with tulle lining, and I soaked it in Delicate Woolite two times. The problem is that it leaves a yellow color still even after the two soaks. I read that the clothing is clean once the water is clear. Am I damaging the slip, and what can I do? Sorry I am still learning how to care for vintage items properly,

    • Dominique de Merteuil
      April 16, 2022

      Hi Priscilla,
      Firstly, please be very careful when cleaning your precious vintage garments. Oh, the horror stories I could tell you about what happens with vintage lingerie when not handled properly! I’m not going to get into any great details, but once, I foolishly placed 1940s rayon knickers under running water, which you should NEVER do. I was in such a hurry, I wasn’t thinking straight, and suffice to say, I paid the price. The rayon disintegrated within seconds. 🙁

      Secondly, sometimes it takes more than two soaks before the water is clean. I have a 1940s dress that had to be soaked six times! If your slip has yellow spots, although I’m not sure how you could see them on a black fabric, use my favourite cleaning product, Retro Clean. I don’t know how I could have forgotten to include the product in the article!

      Last but not least, I have a couple of vintage dresses, that even though I soaked for more than a day, still leave a yellow colour. I didn’t want to risk damaging the dresses so I decided that a 24-hour soak, with changing the water three times, was enough. What can I tell you, the dresses are clean, and they smell lovely.

      You can try another soak in Woolite, use Retro Clean or leave it as it is. If the slip is very precious to you and the tulle trim delicate, perhaps it’s not worth the risk.

      Dx

      • Priscilla
        April 21, 2022

        Hi Dominique

        I brought some retro clean, soaked the slip for a day, and then soaked it again. Then I washed it in Laundress Delicate Wash, and Now I have a spotless clean slip. I would definitely recommend the Retro Clean and laundress. Thank you for the recommendation.

        Priscilla

        • Dominique de Merteuil
          April 21, 2022

          Hi Priscilla,
          I’m so happy to hear that it worked for you! Retro Clean never disappoint. I used it a couple of days ago on an antique bed throw, and after one soak, it turned from cream colour to white. 🙂

  • Marissa
    March 9, 2022

    Ah! I’m so glad I found your blog! Feel like I’m going to be lost in all your posts for the next few hours. 🙂

    Purchasing some of that soap from your link now. The spray bottle tip is amazing, thank you for all this information!

  • Dorinda Kay Grandbois
    January 9, 2022

    I just purchased a heavy velvet Victorian cloak with a metal neck frame from a Vintage clothing shop. The fabric is in excellent condition, but it soaked up the mustiness from the surrounding area. If I use vinegar, will it absorb that smell? How would I use the baking soda you mentioned?

    • Dominique de Merteuil
      January 9, 2022

      Lucky you! I LOVE Victorian cloaks and capes. Yes, place a bowl filled with vinegar under the cloak and leave it in the bathroom for a day. That should absorb the smell.

      Baking soda is known for removing odour in the fridge, and the same goes for the musty smell of clothes. In case of bad smells in the fridge, you open a box of soda and leave it inside the fridge for as long as it’s needed. When it comes to clothes, you are supposed to pour a little bit of baking soda in a plastic bag that will fit the garment, tight it up and leave for the night.

      I DON”T like to place antique or vintage garments inside a plastic bag, or even near a plastic bag, so I do the fridge trick of pouring a lot of baking soda in a bowl placed under the garment and I leave it for a day or two.

      If you are curious why I’m so averse to plastic when it comes to vintage clothes, please take a look at my; How to Store Vintage Clothes Like a Pro! article.

  • julia ramos
    August 5, 2020

    i just bought a beautiful evening gown would love info on it the year?

  • karen
    April 2, 2020

    The blogs you produce incurs the much to my knowledge. The skills that are established strongly on the knowledge are very much in demand. I would like to add that your writings adds knowledge to my skills.

  • Thomas Michel
    January 21, 2020

    The blogs you produce incurs the much to my knowledge. The skills that are established strongly on the knowledge are very much in demand. I would like to add that your writings adds knowledge to my skills.

  • Gata Collins
    January 9, 2020

    Your blog is everything needed for a vintage lover! Great!

  • Sophie
    January 7, 2020

    Love all the tips you share on the blog!!!

    I’ve used vodka to get rid of bad odour from clothes many times and it worked every time. I’m a little bit worried about what you said though… That it might cause damage to the fabric?
    Curious what your “investigation” will show.

    • Dominique de Merteuil
      January 7, 2020

      Thank you!!!

      I will update the article as soon as I have enough data to prove or disprove the claim that vodka might cause damage to the fabric.

    • Anisa
      July 31, 2023

      Love your style and looking forward to more of your articles and blogs!!