Wool advice

[steve12201]

My father died from cancer in December and I was recently helping my mother go through his personal property. We opened his foot locker from when he attended the Massanutten Military Academy in Virginia back in the early 60's.

We opened the musty chest and mostly found horse magazines and quite a few 1960's nudie books;)

Anyway, at the bottom of the locker was his academy shell jacket and great coat. The great coat is cadet grey with a red lining under the cape. It also has Virginia buttons....Sic Semper Tyrannis!

The problem is that the coats both have white surface mold or mildew on the areas where they touched the locker. I took them to get them dry-cleaned and they refused to take on the project. The white stuff rubs off and the wool underneath does not appear damaged at all (sans a few moth holes on the red lining).

Anybody know the safest way to clean my dad's uniforms so I can preserve them for my son?

Thanks,
Steve

[Charles Weathers]

That's interesting that the dry cleaner wouldn't touch it. My Grandma recently had my Grandpa's WWII unifrom cleaned and they did a superb job! Of course they did make her sign a waiver in case in came back in pieces!!! Keep looking, I'm sure someone will be willing to do it as long as they have your signature in hand. Good luck!

[tompritchett]

I took them to get them dry-cleaned and they refused to take on the project.

Who refused, the dry cleaners or your siblings?

[steve12201]

The dry cleaners.

I might get a very soft brush and try to get all the visible mildew off before I try the cleaners again. Maybe they will be more willing to take on the project if the coats don't look so nasty.

I really don't think it will be too hard to clean them. Its not like the stuff is glued onto the material....its just setting on the very top surface.

Steve

[Radar]

I've taken my CW uniforms to the cleaners while they were damp and had mud on them. They also had some make-up from where we were in a NPS filming. My little local hometown cleaners gladly :p cleaned them, after they dried out some.

[rooney]

I would put them out in the sun and let the sun and wind stop the mildew. See if you can find a good clothing brush and them brush them. It may take several days to get the smell out. If you want them cleaned after that, find a different dry cleaner.
Brian

[Spinster]

After the brushing and airing, call around and find a more high end dry cleaner. You want the sort of folks who make a regular business of cleaning and preserving wedding gowns.

Then, go here and order the extra large box.....
http://www.touchofeurope.net/page/tofe/PROD/12783

If you have need for a second one, get it at the same time--poke around their site, and you'll find the coupon for free shipping when the order is over $50

[bob 125th nysvi]

get one of those dry cleaning kits you use in the dryer.

THEN take it to another dry cleaner.

maybe the first one didn't want to do it because of the age of the garment?

[tompritchett]

maybe the first one didn't want to do it because of the age of the garment?

Very good point.

[Charles Weathers]

It's mainly the age thing. If it falls apart during the cleaning they don't want to get sued!

Also, never have your wedding dress "preserved" unless you never plan on wearing it again (i.e. passing it down to your daughter). I have a friend that does that and he said it preserves the dress perfectly but makes it brittle so it can never be worn. Your best bet is archival storage like the web address given.