Caring
We recommend that our customers wash or dry clean all items
before wearing.
Before washing vintaqe clothing, check the garment's care label
(if available). Not all fabrics are suitable for machine washing.
MANI recommend you not use a washing machine or a dryer for any
vintage items.
Vintage fabrics suitable to wash are cotton, linen and some wools
usually when mixed with nylon and acrylics. As a guideline
nylon goods or mixtures will be after 1940, acrylics after 1950 and
polyester marked labels after 1960. Many fabrics from the
sixties will be under specific registered trademark names such as
Crimplene which is high bulk polyester. Crimplene washes and
drip dries if washed correctly below 40 degrees centigrade and
is then cold rinsed.
Hand-washing or using your washer's delicate cycle with a mild
detergent is usually a good choice, especially for polyester or
cotton. Modern driers are too harsh for vintage fabrics, so air
drying is recommended.
Be careful handling your garment and do not wring or swish it
around. Fabric and lace is most fragile when wet, so it is
best just to leave the garment in the solution and let time do its
work.
For delicate vintage clothing handwashing is always the best
method. Especially for very old or very worn garments, no
matter what material is used. For more advice or extra care for
your special garment, take it to an experienced dry cleaner.
Use low settings to iron vintage garments.
If ever in any doubt the best option is to handwash or dry clean
your vintage garment. If handled with care the vintage garment will
last for many more years.
Cleaning your clothing:
Acetate: Dry clean, or machine or hand wash at a
cool temperature. Do not wring when wet or put through spin cycle
in washer. Hang or dry flat (do not tumble dry). Iron while damp at
a cool temperature.
Polyester: Most items made from polyester can
be machine washed and dried. To wash use warm water and add a
fabric softener to the final rinse cycle. If ironing is required,
use a moderately warm iron.
Acrylic: Machine wash. Hang or dry flat. Iron
at a cool temperature.
Corduroy: Wash as per material (usually
cotton), turning inside out. Leave inside out for ironing and iron
at cool temperature.
Cotton: Separate lights & darks and machine
wash. Iron at a cool temperature.
Denim: Wash as per cotton, but wash it alone
the first time so that dye does not stain other clothing. Turn
inside out to discourage fading. Hang dry to avoid shortening and
shrinkage.
Leather: Send to specialist dry cleaner. Proper
storage, cleaning, and conditioning will keep leather
looking no matter how old it is.
Nylon: Wash by hand or machine at a cool
temperature with similar colours. Nylon's natural hue is grayish
and it will revert if mislaundered. Special nylon whiteners can be
purchased at the supermarket. Iron cool.
Rayon: If washing instructions are missing, dry
clean only. Wash at a cool temperature. Iron cool.
Silk: Dry clean or hand wash in cool water with
mild detergent. Do not rub or a chalky bloom may arise due to
broken filaments. Hang or dry flat. Take care with spot cleaning,
as this may leave rings. Shirts and blouses should be steamed or
ironed on a cool temperature.
Suede: Dry clean only. Protect with suede
protector spray once back from the cleaner.
Wool & cashmere: Dry clean or hand wash.
Wool may be damaged by traditional soaps and detergents. Use mild
detergent or baby shampoo. Put wool through the washing machine or
tumble dryer only on settings specifically designated for this
fibre. If wrinkled, hang dry woollens in steamy bathroom. (Hot
water will shrink wool and the barbs will felt together, and all
natural movement and elasticity will be lost)