How I Clean Vintage Clothes Without Ruining Them*

Let’s be honest: cleaning vintage clothes is not for the faint of heart…the musty, the cigarette-y, the icky...I've smelled it all.

It’s part laundry, part archaeology, and part risk-taking.

And if you’ve ever pulled a vintage tee from a thrift bin that smelled like your uncle’s attic and a dash of regret, you know: your cleaning game better be strong.

I’ve cleaned everything from ’80s Levi's to ’90s grunge flannels to questionable leather-jackets that smelled like they were the Marlboro man.  And I’ve mostly lived to tell the tale.

So here’s how I clean vintage clothes — without ruining them*

1. First, I sniff it like I’m judging a candle.

I’m not kidding. The first test is always the smell test.

If it’s musty, smoky, or smells like Eau de Grandma’s Basement, I know we’re working with natural fibers and a little bit of mystery. And mystery takes patience.

2. I read the tags — if they’re still hanging on.

If a tag says “Dry Clean Only,” I pause… and decide if I trust the process or the 40-year-old instructions written by someone who didn’t have Google.

If there’s no tag, I do the fabric test:

• Is it cotton or a blend? I can usually hand or machine wash cold.
• Wool? Dry clean or gentle hand wash if I’m feeling bold.
• Rayon or silk? We’re in the "don’t ruin this please" zone.

3. I start gentle — like, baby shampoo gentle.

If I’m not sure, I hand wash in the sink or tub with mild detergent (or yes, baby shampoo if I’m feeling fancy).

Cool or lukewarm water only — vintage doesn’t love drama.

For tees and denim? I toss them in the washer inside out on regular cycle and throw them in the dryer. Never together...denim with denim, t-shirts with t-shirts...you get the idea.

Some people claim to never put vintage in the dryer...I source mainly 80s and 90s vintage, so the dryer is usually okay, but with older articles always err on the side of caution. Vintage in a dryer is like putting a Gremlin in water. Something bad will happen.

4. For stinkier pieces, it’s a soak situation.

• Cool water
  
• A splash of distilled white vinegar
• Let it soak for hours (sometimes overnight)

5. I air dry everything I'm worried may not make it through a dryer cycle...think blazers, dresses, skirts, etc.

Outside when it’s nice, on a drying rack when it’s not.

Sunlight is a natural disinfectant and gives bonus cottagecore energy.

Final thoughts from your vintage cleaner-in-chief:

Cleaning vintage is part science, part ritual, and part whispered apology to the past.

Every piece gets a little love before it hits my racks or your closet — because slow fashion isn’t just about what it looks like.

It’s about what it lives through.

So if you ever grab a tee from my booth and wonder, “Wow, this smells great and feels brand new,” just know: I’ve already battled the grime so you can wear the good vibes.

*The photo for this blog is from a time I decided to go against the "Dry Clean Only" tag and I washed the blazer on a regular cycle. It did not go well, obviously...and, well...I ruined it. So when in doubt, go with what the tag says!!