Handwashing Scarves Pictures Part I

[AnnaE]

I am looking at getting a vintage scarf, I read that anything before 1985 may have an issue with the dyes running? Can anyone with a vintage scarf tell me what I need to be aware of when washing vintage scarves? Does it matter colour of the scarf? Are there certain colors which are more prone to bleed? Any advice would be welcomed!

Vintage reds tend to run more than other colors. In my experience, black tends to run as well.

I would wash it in ice cold water (as cold as you can stand — feel feee to use ice cubes). You can use some color catcher sheets as well.

If the dye does run, pouring boiling water on it usually fixes it (I know it can be terrifying, but it works).

 

[Julide]

Vintage reds tend to run more than other colors. In my experience, black tends to run as well.

I would wash it in ice cold water (as cold as you can stand — feel feee to use ice cubes). You can use some color catcher sheets as well.

If the dye does run, pouring boiling water on it usually fixes it (I know it can be terrifying, but it works).

Thank you! The boiling water does sound terrifying!

 

[Pautinka]

AnnaE, thank you for chiming in as well - every success story is a boost! I believe sizing stuff you can buy in your countries must be softer and better than what I can find here. I grew up learning how to mix corn flour and water, and when this concoction was sprayed onto lace curtains and table cloths they got so stiff they could literally stand up! Think our shops sell some ready made sprays but still too strong for a delicate moussie.

Eliwon, your story reminded me of when I lived in Russia in 1993. The wonderful old lady I lived with also made her own starch for sheets, tablecloths etc - but instead of cornflour she used the water she had boiled potatoes or rice in. It worked wonderfully......but I don't think I would use it on silk!

 

[eliwon]

I don't normally hand wash coats because it it just too much of a pain. Most things with 'dry clean only' tags can be most certainly handwashed. In fact, I have seen 100% cotton items with that tag -- I think manufacturers are just being extra careful these days.



Sorry to hear that! I find that washing in ice cold water (literally with ice cubes in it) prevents the color from running, but maybe I have been lucky.



@bunnycat is certainly an expert here, but to chime in, I have never had any issues washing or ironing mousselines, changeant or otherwise. I even often spray some sizing on them when ironing to give them more body...

Difficulty answering your kind latest post AnnaE, but this was my answer: “Thanks again, AnnaE, very generous of you, but agree - in these days and times sending anything potentially suspicious is best to avoid! When I’ve got a bit more time to spare Project Moussie Ironing will be on the agenda”

 

[AnnaE]

Thank you! The boiling water does sound terrifying!

Yes, the first time I did it, I did it on the oldest, most beat up Hermes scarf I could find on eBay as an experiment and it worked perfectly. I don't normally deal with the dye that runs though, but it is a very valid technique that I would not hesitate to use again.

Eliwon, your story reminded me of when I lived in Russia in 1993. The wonderful old lady I lived with also made her own starch for sheets, tablecloths etc - but instead of cornflour she used the water she had boiled potatoes or rice in. It worked wonderfully......but I don't think I would use it on silk!

That makes sense since that is pretty similar to how, say, potato starch is made -- lots of boiling to extract the startch down and then boiling it down to evaporate the liquid. I think this is a little too time consuming for my taste though Thankfully, starch comes in a can these days...

Difficulty answering your kind latest post AnnaE, but this was my answer: “Thanks again, AnnaE, very generous of you, but agree - in these days and times sending anything potentially suspicious is best to avoid! When I’ve got a bit more time to spare Project Moussie Ironing will be on the agenda”

Good luck! Let us know how it goes!

 

[Notorious Pink]

Just hand washed about 20 twillies and I am thrilled with the results. Cold water and Dawn soap got all of the dinginess out and the color looks exactly the same, and feels the same, too! Hand rolled in a towel and hung to dry.

To show - the one on the left is still brand new with the tag, the one on the right was worn and hand washed:

 

[ajaxbreaker]

Just hand washed about 20 twillies and I am thrilled with the results. Cold water and Dawn soap got all of the dinginess out and the color looks exactly the same, and feels the same, too! Hand rolled in a towel and hung to dry.

To show - the one on the left is still brand new with the tag, the one on the right was worn and hand washed:

You used only Dawn dish soap, nothing else in the water?

 

[Etriers]

I always keep a man’s plain white cotton handkerchief with my ironing board and use it between the iron and delicate fabrics, or fabrics that I am concerned about scorching. If I need steam then, instead of having to mist the fabric itself and worry about water spots, it’s the handkerchief that gets misted.

 

[DoggieBags]

Instead of ironing have you tried laying your silks when still wet flat on a glass or Formica surface? Lay the piece flat with no wrinkles or creases, blocked in the shape you want. This is easier to do with smaller scarves and twillies and may not be possible with the bigger scarves unless you have a big enough continuous surface to handle the larger pieces. You can do this with fine linens like linen handkerchiefs and damask napkins also.

 

[bunnycat]

I always keep a man’s plain white cotton handkerchief with my ironing board and use it between the iron and delicate fabrics, or fabrics that I am concerned about scorching. If I need steam then, instead of having to mist the fabric itself and worry about water spots, it’s the handkerchief that gets misted.

ooh- nice- I will add this to my repertoire! Mostly I only would need this for large mousselines. They are the most prone to drying so fast you need to mist them.

On regular twills (of any size) I have come to the process of ironing briefly while damp. So I wash, roll in towel, let hang for a few minutes, then when damp, I iron them briefly on silk setting just to get any wrinkles out and add sizing if I am looking to make something less floppy (don't need steam, they make plenty on their own), then let them finish drying hanging up.

 

[Etriers]

ooh- nice- I will add this to my repertoire! Mostly I only would need this for large mousselines. They are the most prone to drying so fast you need to mist them.

On regular twills (of any size) I have come to the process of ironing briefly while damp. So I wash, roll in towel, let hang for a few minutes, then when damp, I iron them briefly on silk setting just to get any wrinkles out and add sizing if I am looking to make something less floppy (don't need steam, they make plenty on their own), then let them finish drying hanging up.

Your silks always look perfect! When you add sizing, do you just spray it on? Any special brand?

I got into the habit of putting a handkerchief between an iron and a schmancy fabric because I saw a housekeeper do that when I was growing up. It seemed like a lot of extra work to me, but she said that sometimes iron heat settings were unreliable. Probably it’s less necessary with teflon coated irons today, but my white ironing handkerchiefs get yellowed enough over time that I suppose they are doing something good.

 

[Etriers]

Instead of ironing have you tried laying your silks when still wet flat on a glass or Formica surface? Lay the piece flat with no wrinkles or creases, blocked in the shape you want. This is easier to do with smaller scarves and twillies and may not be possible with the bigger scarves unless you have a big enough continuous surface to handle the larger pieces. You can do this with fine linens like linen handkerchiefs and damask napkins also.

Interesting! I’ll have to try that.

 

[bunnycat]

Your silks always look perfect! When you add sizing, do you just spray it on? Any special brand?

I got into the habit of putting a handkerchief between an iron and a schmancy fabric because I saw a housekeeper do that when I was growing up. It seemed like a lot of extra work to me, but she said that sometimes iron heat settings were unreliable. Probably it’s less necessary with teflon coated irons today, but my white ironing handkerchiefs get yellowed enough over time that I suppose they are doing something good.

This one that was suggested earlier in the thread: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Magic-Si...HK-EhcuqWUAU9bT3GaGq3ZAeMEK52Ca4aAknSEALw_wcB

Just a light spritzing. You can always add more but would have to wash it out and start again if you went too heavy.

I'll sometimes use a cloth between the scarf and the iron, but with modern irons the teflon coating is not too problematic generally.

 

[Etriers]

This one that was suggested earlier in the thread: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Magic-Si...HK-EhcuqWUAU9bT3GaGq3ZAeMEK52Ca4aAknSEALw_wcB

Just a light spritzing. You can always add more but would have to wash it out and start again if you went too heavy.

I'll sometimes use a cloth between the scarf and the iron, but with modern irons the teflon coating is not too problematic generally.

Thank you!