Stains out of a 1950s silk box?

[Circe]

I got this gorgeous old Tiffany vanity case, with the loveliest pink kid lining. But the original owner seems to have had a heavy hand with the contents and it's all over rouge and god only knows what else.

Anybody know how to clean it?

 

[aviastar]

Steam? The dry vapor kind?

Just a guess, but that stuff is supposed to be hot enough to sanitize, not leave puddles and droplets behind and be safe on fabric.

Good luck, it's a gorgeous case!

 

[Circe]

Steam? The dry vapor kind?

Just a guess, but that stuff is supposed to be hot enough to sanitize, not leave puddles and droplets behind and be safe on fabric.

Good luck, it's a gorgeous case!

I'm not sure what dry vapor steam is, or how one does it. I tried taking it to the dry cleaner, but she didn't think it would work. So it's either home solutions, or a service I've yet to discover.

 

[VapidLapid]

I would begin by blotting, never rubbing, with alcohol on very absorbent wadding, a full paper towel folded in quarters should be fine. I would expect it to take many applications. Take care that the alcohol doesn't act as a solvent on any glue holding it together. If it does just go cautiously, holding any possibly affected pieces together as the solvent evaporates. Also if there is padding underneath sufficient that you feel that it could draw air I would try touching a vacuum nozzle over the spots to remove any loose material, pigment flakes, rouge medium...taking care not to drag the nozzle across as that would effectively rub IN any material it touched. After that I might try some french chalk, again with suction

 

[artdecogirl]

I wonder if you try one of the powder carpet cleaners, you know the powder or foam ones that you apply to the surface and let sit for awhile then vacume it up, I think they work by binding to the soil somehow, I would be afraid to put any moisture on it not knowing if the base underneath the fabric is wood or cardboard and it may disolve any glue used also. That is going to be so pretty all cleaned up, good luck!

 

[Circe]

I would begin by blotting, never rubbing, with alcohol on very absorbent wadding, a full paper towel folded in quarters should be fine. I would expect it to take many applications. Take care that the alcohol doesn't act as a solvent on any glue holding it together. If it does just go cautiously, holding any possibly affected pieces together as the solvent evaporates. Also if there is padding underneath sufficient that you feel that it could draw air I would try touching a vacuum nozzle over the spots to remove any loose material, pigment flakes, rouge medium...taking care not to drag the nozzle across as that would effectively rub IN any material it touched. After that I might try some french chalk, again with suction

Interesting - like rubbing alcohol? That's actually something I keep around. It looks stitched together pretty securely, so I'm not worried about glue, though there is definitely padding. I may try this in some out of the way corner, and see how it works. You also jogged loose a distant memory of one if my favorite antique dealers telling me soda water will lift almost any stain ....

 

[Circe]

I wonder if you try one of the powder carpet cleaners, you know the powder or foam ones that you apply to the surface and let sit for awhile then vacume it up, I think they work by binding to the soil somehow, I would be afraid to put any moisture on it not knowing if the base underneath the fabric is wood or cardboard and it may disolve any glue used also. That is going to be so pretty all cleaned up, good luck!

Ooo, thanks for the tip - that hadn't occurred to me. I think I'm basically going to try each suggestion on a little interior piece, see what works best, and go from there ....

 

[Circe]

Huh! Tip for anybody else ever in this position - tape will lift rouge out of kid, with a little patience. Top half as compared to bottom half after five minutes .....

PS - think Oxiclean could work?

 

[Dee*Jay]

My initial thought was Oxiclean, but I would hesitate based on the mositure aspect. The dry carpet cleaner idea is a good one though!

 

[aviastar]

Steam? The dry vapor kind?

Just a guess, but that stuff is supposed to be hot enough to sanitize, not leave puddles and droplets behind and be safe on fabric.

Good luck, it's a gorgeous case!

I'm not sure what dry vapor steam is, or how one does it. I tried taking it to the dry cleaner, but she didn't think it would work. So it's either home solutions, or a service I've yet to discover.

Oh I didn't know either, until I started looking for a steam cleaner for my house- it's apparently different. It would be super expensive if this was your only project for it, but this is the machine I am looking at for my house (and I may never iron again, either!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIhdCIE1GRg

But it sounds like between the tape and some dry carpet power you might be covered!

 

[iLander]

To clean kid leather, you're supposed to use a white rubber eraser. Available at most art stores. Or there are leather cleaners and workers in the phone book.

For the silk, I would ask a dry cleaner.

Or you can try BBOS, they're well know on the purse forums; http://www.bagborroworsteal.com/howitworks?s=5&#handbag_cleaning Before and after photos; http://www.bagborroworsteal.com/handbag-repair/

 

[kenny]

I wonder if a small stiff brush and a vacuum would remove some of it, if not all.