Cleaning Suggestions

January 24, 2016 1:10 PM

I recently came upon my grandfather's WWII US Navy Canvas Dufflebag. It's gotten a little musty over years and years in the attic and needs to be cleaned. I'm concerned about washing his name off by just throwing it in a regular wash, but money's always a little tight and I try not to dry clean stuff unless it's absolutely necessary. Does anyone have any thoughts? Here's a couple pictures.
posted by Flashbullzeye to Home & Garden (5 answers total)

You could test a small area of the ink with a wet paper towel and soap, to see if it runs. If it doesn't, I'd do a cold water wash in the sink or bathtub with a mild detergent (Woolite, or even Ivory Soap) and hang dry. If you live in a climate where you can expose to sunlight, that will help too. If it runs, you could try an at-home dry cleaner, which consists of a damp cleaning cloth that you put in a bag with your item and run through the dryer - although that may cost you as much as the dry cleaner.
posted by Sweetie Darling at 1:22 PM on January 24, 2016 [2 favorites]

I would start by turning it inside out and hanging it up in the sunshine for a couple of days. If that did not clear the must, then I would spritz it with a mixture of water & vodka (4:1 is the ratio I have always used. Spray the surface thoroughly, but don't soak it. Just spritz) and leave it to dry (preferably somewhere in the sunshine with circulating fresh air).

If there are stains or spots of dirt, put a clean white towel on the opposite side, then dab soapy water on the spot (saturate the spot). Press with another clean white towel. Continue this process, shifting the towels as necessary it appears clean. Dab fresh water on the spot (saturate it) and press until it appears mostly dry and not soapy.

I'm not a textile expert, but this is how I have treated vintage garments for years without anything falling apart, becoming waterstained, or losing their dye. YMMV, of course, but with a canvas military duffle, I'd feel confident with these methods.
posted by crush-onastick at 1:41 PM on January 24, 2016 [1 favorite]

Best answer: You can throw it into a regular washing machine without worrying about the name washing off. I've done that with my dad's similar WWII duffle bag, and his name is still there.
posted by ShooBoo at 2:35 PM on January 24, 2016 [4 favorites]

Response by poster: Spoke with my mom and she agrees it won't be the end of the world if it does come off. We're gonna run it through the wash and see what happens. Here's hoping you're right ShooBoo. Thanks for your input everyone.

I'll report back in about an hour with results.
posted by Flashbullzeye at 4:36 PM on January 24, 2016

Just came to say that we did the same with my grandfather's WWII duffle. It came out fine. The name didn't come off. Wash with woolite on a gentle cycle and air dry. My mother ended up making a giant pillow out of it.
posted by amusebuche at 11:49 PM on January 24, 2016