cleaning vintage gloves!

[poopisan]

i love gloves! i keep buying white gloves trying to get exactly the perfect pair. i have a huge box of "not quites"? do you all have any tips for making them really white again? the kidskin leathers are the scariest to try to clean but the stretchy cloth white ones, i was going to try hand washing with just ivory bar soap then air dry. i want to wear them to model some stuff for my shop but also want to wear them in new orleans in september. i'm ashamed of my hard working "man hands" and love gloves besides that.

[Another Time]

All depends on fabric like everything else! Kid gloves are difficult, but a good leather cleaner rubbed very gently is always good. Rayon gloves (lots in the 40s) are very tricky. Gentle soaking is good for sure.

But for the majority of white gloves that are cotton I've had terrific results with washing with a good detergent and sun dry! If they are already clean and you just want to "whiten", I'd lay them out in the afternoon sunshine. Turn occasionally, of course. :) Sun is amazing for white cottons.

[poopisan]

they are probably rayon. do you think soaking in water and oxyclean is ok? and also sun or not for the stretch fabrics? thanks. sorry to be a bother i'm scared i'll ruin them

Another Time said:

All depends on fabric like everything else! Kid gloves are difficult, but a good leather cleaner rubbed very gently is always good. Rayon gloves (lots in the 40s) are very tricky. Gentle soaking is good for sure.

But for the majority of white gloves that are cotton I've had terrific results with washing with a good detergent and sun dry! If they are already clean and you just want to "whiten", I'd lay them out in the afternoon sunshine. Turn occasionally, of course. :) Sun is amazing for white cottons.

[Vintage Linens]

Hello, Oxyclean is NOT good for Rayon. I use Biz or Fels Naptha soap. Like Another Time said, the sun works great for naturally bleaching out stains. The process is called crofting which is laying the wet fabric directly on the grass in the sunshine. There's some kind of chemical process between the water, grass and sun that naturally removes stains. To just brighten them, I think a good long soak in hot water and Biz will do the trick. Why not try your least favorite pair first and let us know how you make out. Christine @ www.vintagelinens.etsy.com and www.vintagebytessa.etsy.com

[Vintage Linens]

I forgot to add to make sure that all the soap is rinsed out before ironing. If soap residue is left the iron may turn the fabric brown.

[poopisan]

thanks alot. saved me from using the oxyclean! i'll let u guys know how it turns out:) thanks again

[Archivia]

I love kid gloves and have a small collection. I was wondering how to clean the white ones as well, so I'd love to find out.

Take this with a grain of salt because I've never tried this, but here is what I derived from the 1960s book entitled "Grandmother's Helpful Hints" which lists techniques from Victorian times:

"French Kid Gloves, to clean: Put the gloves on your hands and wash them, as if you were washing your hands, in some spirits of turpentine, until quite clean; then hang them in a warm place, or where there is a current of air, and all smell of turpentine will be removed. " (my note: this is rather toxic as chemicals from turpentine seep into the bloodstream through the skin. I would probably try to do this without wearing the gloves, and using rubber gloves to protect your hands)

"Kid Gloves, to clean: Rub with very slightly damped bread crumbs. If not effectual, scrape upon them dry fullers earth, or French Chalk, when on the hands, and rub them quickly together in all directions. Some gloves may be washed in a strong lather made of white soap and warm water or milk; or wash with rice pulp. Or sponge them well with turpentine."

Now, I do not understand the distinction they are making between FRENCH kid gloves and Kid Gloves, so I wouldn't mind finding that out as well.

I have a link also to the text of a 1931 book which describes a process for cleaning kid gloves on this page:

http://vintagesewing.info/1930s/31-ldc/ldc-14.html

The cleaning bath it mentions is on one of the other pages in the link that you can get to by clicking on the scissor arrows at the bottom of the page.

[poopisan]

wowee! no wonder you are called archivia! dang momma! that sounds like good advice. i don't have any turpentine on hand but i have some chalk cleaner stick for sucking oil stains out of suede shoes. do you think that is the chalk they mean.. i wonder. i have ranch croutons for hubsand but no breadcrumbs. i bookmarked that page you linked. i'll give it a go! i hate un white whites yucky! thank you you're the ginchiest!

[Near Nu]

Funny story, bed bath and beyond sells a leather cleaner for couches. It is in a lavender tube I believe. Anyways, with a white cloth (so no color transfers on to the leather) Gently dabb on the stained spots. This worked on a very expensive leather jacket. I would suggest a spot test so you dont wreck your items as things can vary in age.