Need Cleaning Advice? Cleaning Heirloom Linens

Keeping heirloom linens clean not only allows you to use them in your home, but protects them from damage.
What You Need:

• Vacuum cleaner
• Tulle or fiberglass screen
• Mild soap
• Distilled water
• Lemon juice
• Salt
• Iron
  

Here's How:

1. To remove surface dirt and dust, try carefully vacuuming the item on low suction with vents open.
2. Before storing, examine each linen for food and grease that may attract damaging insects or leave permanent stains.
3. Test each piece to see if it's colorfast by blotting with a white cloth and the water or a mild cleaning solution (Ivory Liquid and other similar products work well) you've prepared.
4. Gently immerse the linen into the liquid and carefully agitate it by hand.
5. For stubborn spots, try treating textiles with a solution made of lemon juice and salt.
6. Rinse the item to remove all soap residue using distilled water for the final rinse, especially in areas with hard water.
7. If possible, dry linens by laying them flat outdoors in the sun on absorbent towels or directly on the grass.
8. Iron each item quickly and carefully using a minimal amount of starch.
9. Avoid dry cleaning heirloom linens since excessive agitation, harsh chemicals and heat can damage them.

Tips:

1. When vacuuming delicate items, place a piece of tulle or fiberglass screen over them for protection.
2. Avoid wetting wools and silks to avoid weakening the fibers.
3. Try drying linens directly on the grass. Many people swear by this method for completely removing stains.

Visit Kitsch-y-Cool Vintage to see the above items in person!
800+ sq ft located inside Sleepy Poet Antique Mall 4450 South Blvd, Charlotte NC, 704-529-6369. Open 7 days a week!
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It's still August, but Fall is Here!!

As far as I am concerned, you can never be too early for great Fall Fashions, so we've brought 'em in before Labor Day to be sure you get the coolest looks right away!!

• Fresh Vintage Fall Coats and Jackets
• Loads of Colorful Members Only Jackets - starting at $16!
• Animal Friendly Faux Fur Looks
• Vintage Sweaters from 50s Beaded Cardigans to Glitzy 80s Long Tunics
  
• 70s-80s Deadstock Foster Grant Sunglasses
• Mad Men style Ladies suits
• 70s Tall Boots
• and of course, much much more!

Check out Kitsch-y-Cool Vintage on TLC's Outrageous Kids Parties!!

Tune in on Wednesday 8/24 to check out Kitsch-y-Cool Vintage and Sleepy Poet Antique Mall on TLC's Outrageous Kids Parties (provided we didn't hit the editing room floor!).
This rad 80's party is gonna be totally awesome!!

Vintage Clothing Care - How to Get Rid of the Smells!

When I am cleaning a huge load of Vintage Clothing, I use a variety of cleaning techniques - Handwashing, "Dry" Cleaning Only (using my own dry cleaning formula), regular wash, and more. But definitely the most challenging items are the ones with an odor all of their own! These items I usually put aside to deal with by themselves on a sunny day when they can be dried outside. Sometimes the smelly offenders are those lovely double-knit polyesters from the 1970's that can easily put put in the washing machine with a splash of white vinegar and detergent and (fingers crossed) they will emerge fresh and clean.

But sadly most often the worst offenders are the best of the 30s and 40s dresses that have been stored away in a musty attic, sometimes soaked with body odors, nicotine, and mold.

• First I take the garment and store it (dry) in a ziploc bag with several cups of baking soda - mix together and leave at least 24 hours. The baking soda absorbs much of the nicotine smell, which doesn't wash out well, and is especially useful on beaded sweaters that you may not want to risk even handwashing. BTW - this also works great on nicotine smells in handbags, and even furniture - just sprinkle a generous amount in bags or drawers and leave.
• Once the nicotine smell is taken care of, a simple soak in cool water and white vinegar first, then with a gentle soap usually takes care of the rest.
  
• Sometimes a spritz of lemon juice or lavender oil at the end, and then hang outside on a fresh sunny day.

This routine works on most of the worst pieces - but remember sometimes you can't save them all.