How do i clean an antique uniform?

Question

I have some of my grandfather's old WW II army uniforms - minus the jacket. I have some pants, shirts, hats, ties, a scarf, a sweater, and what looks like an undershirt. The scarf, pants and hats look like wool, the ties i'm not sure about, and the rest look like cotton. How should i clean them without destroying them? Will they fall apart if they hit water? How do i remove the musty smell?

Answer 1

If you really care about the uniform you should have it dry cleaned and then placed in a shadow box to prevent it from getting dirty again. Add a couple of pictures of Grandpa maybe a love letter to grandma and you have one terrific piece of history and keepsake. You are really lucky to have such a thing.

Answer 2

The items you think are wool and the sweater and ties should all be dry cleaned only to prevent damage to the garment. Make sure you tell the dry cleaners to dry clean only as they are a family heirloom. The undershirt should be washed in warm water on a delicate cycle. I would hang it outside in crisp cool air to dry it. That will prevent shrinkage and help air it out. When the items come back from dry cleaning, if there is still some smell, hang outdoors in the shade for several hours to freshen or use febreeze. Once you are sure everything is fresh, you may ask your dry cleaner to "preserve" them for you. There is acid free boxes that they will put the items in and then shrink wrap to keep airtight. They do this for wedding dresses as well.

Answer 3

Don't do it yourself! 1st, never put wool in water.Put it all in the hands of a professional and if they screw up you can sue for the value of an Antique. Those things are priceless, don't do it.

Answer 4

I would take them to a reputable dry cleaner and ask them for advice.

Answer 5

I would not try and wash them. Take them to your nearest dry cleaners!