Care of Your Treasures

You've seen what we do when we find dusty gems of vintage clothing and accessories in need of repairs, cleaning, and some loving. We won't lie, sometimes, you find the best things at the very bottom of a questionable bin. However, ease your mind, we will never let a garment or item leave our studios without fastidiously making sure it's ready to wear upon arrival.

What do you do, though, when down the line, you have worn your lovely vintage garment and it's due for another wash? Sometimes dry cleaners will scare you. We know we've come across a few strange ones in our days. Well, roll up your sleeves, we found this great article listing all the things you can do to clean your vintage possessions.

In a nutshell: 

• Handwashing with gentle detergent is your best bet. (We use Woolite.) This article delves into when to use cold water and when to use warm according to fabric content. When in doubt, though, we've had great success using cold water for all materials as long as we watch the garment closely.
• Line dry or lay flat to dry. Please, take great care with the dryer. Most of these clothes with a history were made when dryers were not commonly used. Sometimes you'll find that you possess a dress or shirt that was handmade! In that case, avoid the dryer like the plague.
• And of course, if a garment has fur, leather, or lots of beads or embroidery or other decorations, you may want to venture out and find a reputable dry cleaner. Ask around to find a good, trusted one.

The article explains much more but in a lovely, easy to understand list. And of course, we are always available if you have any questions, concerns, or comments. You can reach us right here on our blog, on Etsy through a convo, or simply even e-mail us at LaCaravaneBoheme@live.com.