I am washing one of my tunics now, something I thought I would never do- I never clean or alter anything. It is soaking in the tub- I am past the point of no return. The tunic in question is an officer's field tunic that is very soiled, really filthy. I think it was stored in a damp place and the front placket where the buttons and buttonholes are is actually really stiff and almost hard to manipulate, I guess it could be leftover starch from wartime wear but more likely I think it is soiling and encrustation from poor storage in a place where it was exposed to lots of dust and dampness. The tunic also has some real dirt on it in places which gives it a cool battlefield look. There is some mouse and insect damage and oxidation to the insignia and I think it is too fragile for dry cleaning in any case. Aesthetically, I don't mind the dirt but from a conservation standpoint I am deeply concerned about the long-term effects of whatever is in the fabric that is causing the stiffness. Wether it is starch or some kind of soiling, I fear it could become even less flexible in time, or that the fabric will break down. After lots of study I have decided to soak the tunic, agitate it very gently in the stiff areas, then rinse until the water is clean. I have been soaking it only a short time and already the water is quite brown- and there is a lot of water in the tub. I'm not going to use any soap at all, just water. My hope is that the tunic will wind up looking and feeling like a garment again and that whatever potentially harmful contaminants are there will be at least partially flushed out. My fear is that there will be damage to the insignia (particularly where ther is already oxidation) or further rusting to the collar hooks, which are already rusty. I will report my results here, wish me luck.
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Just curious Chris, but what kind of material are we talking about here, spun wool, tricot, or Italian cloth?Comment
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good luck any before and after pics would be greatOriginally posted by Chris Pittman View Post
Give a man an opinion and you feed him for a day,
teach a man to use the "search" function on the WAF and you feed him for a lifetime.Comment
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It's wool, an upgraded enlisted issue tunic. I am using cold water, of course. I had considered using distilled water but ultimately feel that it is not necessary, though I am afraid of the possibility of tide lines forming during the drying process. I have just drained the tub and was happy to watch all that brown smelly water go down the drain. I had to rinse the bottom of the tub, I was surprised at all the black silt and lint that rinsed out of the fabric. I am glad to have all that potentially acidic, insect-attracting and otherwise harmful junk off of the item.Comment
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Here is a before pic. This is from the dealer and shows some of the condition issues, a good-sized mouse hole and caked on dirt on the sleeve.Comment
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Likely you are letting it drip-dry? I would sugggect you lay it flat and using a very absorbent cloth gently press down on the wool by hand, area by area to remove the majority of the water. It should preclude any tide lines or other water residue discoloration while drying and prevent any stretching of the wet wool due to the weight of the water. Good luck.
Great tunic BTW.Comment
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Another before pic. The photos don't show my main issue with this jacket, the strang stiffness in the upper chest. The tunic keeps the form of the torso when you take it off, it very nearly could stand up on its own. I really enjoy the appearance of the tunic and am rinsing it solely to help preserve it over time.Comment
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Thanks for the advice, I am going to try to carefully use clean terrycloth towels to soak up the water and leave it flat, then try to put it on a torso form for the last part of the drying process. I have a dehumidifier in the room that I hope will help to accellerate the drying process to reduce the chance of further oxidation to the insignia.Comment
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Chris, I put really thick terry cloth towels on a table and lay the tunic on top of them and then take other towels and press down on the tunic to push the water out into the towels. When you get most of it out you can dab wet areas with a dry towel. I usually leave the tunic flat like that over night etc. until it is just damp and then lay it out on a drying rack open. When it is on a rack you can open the sleeves with 35mm film canisters to let the air pass through the sleeves to dry. The problem with a torso when it is really wet is that the inside will not dry. I only put it on a form after it has dried for the most part to shape it. The insignia should be fine. I have never seen any oxidation from thisComment
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I just finished washing one of my rocks in cold water, no soap, 3 rinses and WOW!
The ammount of ick in the water was amazing, I couldn't see the bottom of the tub and it looked like a dark tea color.
I'm really looking forward to seeing it in its dried and more clean glory now.
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an interesting theme but curious...the thread starter posts pictures of a submerged be-sudded tunic...no before, no after. id have preferred the pre/post-dip snaps to follow....no money shots, then? if cold, the water shouldnt take any dye out. that is my understanding. id hate to think any of that primordial sludge sliding down the plug hole contained precious colouring elements tied up with the original manufacture.Last edited by corporalSteiner; 10-27-2009, 02:51 AM.Comment
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Agree with above, please post before- during - after photo's!
In this case pictures tell more then words.
Looking forward to them!
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I washed this one as soon as I got it.
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=387021
It was filthy plus the seller had just stuffed it into a small box and then it went missing in the post for nearly 2 months so it was all creased anyway.
Washed it in cold water and a small amount of woolite. I then put in the washing machine on spin to get rid of the excess water and let it air dry on a hanger. Came out great. Wished I'd taken some before photos now. Don't think I'd try the machine spin method on anything but a salty, stripped tunic though.Comment
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Here are some "during" pics. There was a lot of water in the tub and I was amazed at how much grime came out just with a soak and a little gentle agitation.Comment
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After I drained the water, the bottom of the tub was coated in this sludge. This is dirt, dust, lint, and other particles that I am really glad are not in the fabric any more. This soiling, probably the result of poor storage rather than wartime wear and use, can attract insects and break down the fabric fibers over the years.Comment
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