Don't frames da stainz!

September 25, 2009 6:48 PM

Any laundry superstars out there? I need to clean a very precious item..

Short version: is there a miracle stain removal product/process for a shirt that doesn't require total immersion?


Long version: I'm an Oakland Raider fan. Big one, if you didn't guess by my name. And I have this Ken Stabler jersey that a pal I've never met sent to me from England. It's old and this style (vintage) has never been available in North America

I wore it well for years and it was treasured but in a ratty kinda way. Last year I flew across the continent for a game and me, my jersey and Ken Stabler intersected at a hotel bar.

So now it's signed and invaluable (to me). But faded and worse, stained. All over the place. It wasn't until I took it to get framed that I realized how bad the staining was. Grease, mayo, whisky, you name it... this shirt has seen good times. The back is ok but the sleeves are nasty.

Dry cleaning is out of the question as I can't lose the autograph (above name on the back so just below collar)

Jersey is (faded) black, 100% cotton.

Any ideas better than household spray stuff?

Cheers

posted by raider to Grab Bag (13 answers total)

What about fixing the autograph with heat? You could try putting a brown paper bag over the autograph, then ironing. You might try making a mark with a Sharpie on the back, fixing it with this method, then trying to spot clean that area to see if the mark goes away. If not, then try this on the collar.

The tricky part would be simulating a dry clean. You'd have to get a little bit of the solvent (or perhaps you might go to the dry cleaner to do the test).
posted by UrineSoakedRube at 6:57 PM on September 25, 2009

I missed the part where you mentioned that it was 100% cotton. The heat fixing (to be on the safe side) should work pretty well, and you could hand wash the sleeves.
posted by UrineSoakedRube at 6:59 PM on September 25, 2009

I know you mentioned that dry cleaning is out of the question, but would you consider consulting with a dry cleaner? Most dry cleaners offer other kinds of professional laundry services, and they've seen it all, so they might be able to help you.
posted by amyms at 7:27 PM on September 25, 2009

Best answer: Take it to a professional cleaner (the best one you can find) and explain that you want everything cleaned but the signature. Ask them to explain what they're going to do and how it will preserve the part that matters to you.

You're far more likely to ruin the signature or the shirt trying to DIY than a professional cleaner is.
posted by decathecting at 7:47 PM on September 25, 2009 [1 favorite]

I've had good luck using Dryel dry cleaning kits on stuff. The kit comes with this bottle of liquid stain remover and absorbent pad things, so you could carefully clean the area around the autograph.
posted by pluckysparrow at 7:56 PM on September 25, 2009

I'm really not trying to be snarky here. But:

Aren't the stains part of the charm? After all, this is a jersey you wore and treasured for many years, and then you got Ken Stabler to sign it. How cool is that? Every time you look at that framed jersey, you'll be reminded that it is both irreplaceable and a bit embarrassing. I think the jersey is perfect just the way it is.

But if you insist on trying to clean it anyway, you might just tackle the stains on the sleeves or other spots far away from the autograph. Since the shirt is cotton, I would dilute a little dish soap in a lot of warm water. Then use a barely-damp sponge to spot-clean the worst of the stains. For the really yucky stains, put an old cotton sock or something absorbent inside the sleeve to isolate the stain. Rub gently, so you don't risk lifting any of the dye. Rinse, again with a barely-damp sponge, then blot it dry. You might even try using a hair dryer to get the last little bit of moisture. You'll probably need to press the fabric after it's completely dry. I would set the iron on the coolest possible temperature and press it gently. Try not to run the iron back and forth.
posted by DrGail at 7:59 PM on September 25, 2009 [1 favorite]

2nding DrGail. For me, the important thing would be the memories of wearing it and getting it signed myself (versus buying a signature on ebay). This sounds like a very unique treasure but there's probably not a lot of monetary value for anyone else but you. Why not try displaying it in a shadowbox type frame along with some other Raider memorabilia like ticket stubs, a photo from your trip, team pins, foam finger, hat, etc.
Here's one idea, and here's a goalie jersey.
I would take a trip to a Hard Rock Cafe for some inspiration. They have a lot of used memorabilia displayed in very creative ways. Have fun with it and good luck!
posted by Ochre,Hugh at 8:35 PM on September 25, 2009

Response by poster: Thanks guys. I don't have a dry cleaner I trust (last one I did lost two of my shirts) but maybe I'll canvass a few for opinions if I can find some that speak English.

DrGail you're right, this jersey was rock n' roll and imperfections gave it character but when you're talking many hundreds for framing I want to get it right. As much as I allow and endorse grubbiness, no need to glorify it at the expense of a treasure.

More ideas still welcome...
posted by raider at 8:49 PM on September 25, 2009

Is there any way to fold the sleeves under the shirt so that you don't see the stains, or so they aren't as easy to see? Or (this idea might be too radical) can the sleeves be professionally removed and possibly replaced by a really excellent tailor?
posted by k8lin at 9:42 PM on September 25, 2009

I've had good luck with the spray-on Oxyclean laundry stuff...I'll spray a stain, and when I go to wash it, the stain has already mostly disappeared...might try it on the front or the underside of the sleeves.
posted by kattyann at 7:56 AM on September 26, 2009

This is a standard jersy, right? And you are getting it framed, so it is absolutely not ever going to be worn again?

If that is truly the case, I would unpick the stitching holding the back onto the rest of the jersey, then have the non-autographed bits professionally cleaned. Then either sew it back together yourself, or organise for a friend or seamstress to restitch it for you. That way the bits that need washing get washed and the bits that don't, don't.
posted by Jilder at 12:13 PM on September 26, 2009 [1 favorite]

Best answer: There are super-high-end dry cleaners that do irreplaceable one-of-a-kind items all the time, find one of those?
posted by trevyn at 2:10 PM on September 26, 2009 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: It turns out having a wife smarter than I am did the trick. Or maybe her lack of trepidation was the deciding factor. Regardless #12 was cleaned in-house and is ready for immortalization.

But if I were on my own I agree that as much as leaving its fate in a stranger's hands is scary, that would be the way to go.

Thanks again for the responses.
posted by raider at 10:25 AM on September 28, 2009