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Delicate Laundry Tips for Resale & Resellers
Vintage is IN! Sustainability is increasingly important to customers and shoppers are now looking for that feeling of newness differently, whether through renting, resale, or reclaiming old vintage finds. That makes for a great market for clothing resale. But, resale is hard enough without worrying about laundry problems.
Just imagine: you go out thrifting to hunt for the perfect vintage jacket and boom – you find it. How great is that feeling!? But now that you have your new piece of clothing that you will enjoy or sell, you want to make sure you’re doing everything you can to preserve it.
It’s always fun to find and wear vintage clothing, but you also want to maintain the integrity of the material so you can enjoy it for years to come or flip it for profit. For most resellers, this is a hobby, but for serious resellers, delicate and vintage clothing is a job. You want to treat it like a business.
No matter if you’re selling or buying used items, chances are you’ll need to give them a bit of a refresh so that they look and feel as good as new. But, you have to be careful not to ruin the delicate laundry in the wash.
That’s why we’ve compiled some of our favorite laundry tips for vintage clothing care – highlighting how to preserve vintage textures and restore vintage clothes..
Tip #1: The basics of hand washing
The best thing you can do if you are worried about damaging a piece of delicate or vintage fabric is to opt for hand washing and air drying. Hand washing may sound daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. You can wash your clothes by hand in any sort of bathtub, sink, or bucket. Just don’t forget to clean and sanitize whatever you are using first!
When washing vintage clothes by hand, always make sure to test for dye bleeding and shrinking by moistening a small spot of your garment’s fabric in a non-obvious place with your soap, detergent, and water at the temperature at which you will wash it. Allow the liquid to sit for a few moments before blotting the spot with a white towel. Embroidery and other embellishments should also be examined. Be sure to be careful and mindful when washing anything for the first time.
When the fabric dries, you will notice puckering if the fabric is prone to shrinking andthis will let you know if you should continue washing your clothes by hand or if you need to opt for dry cleaning.
If your test spot dries correctly, you should be good to go with your handwashing process, ideally followed by air drying on a clothesline or drying rack.
Tip #2: When to opt for dry cleaning
If you’re worried about maintaining the integrity of your vintage clothing, you may consider dry cleaning instead. Certain delicate fabrics that benefit from dry-clean-only services include, but are not limited to:
- Fabrics that are prone to shrinking
- Fabrics with dyes that run
- Fabrics with special finishes that could be at risk of being washed out
- Clothing with inner linings, such as coats and suits
- Velvets and similar materials
This can be expensive if you are reselling at high volumes. Adding an extra expense will eat away at your profit. Instead, try passing this cost along to the customer. Intentionally price your garments $5-$10 more so you can wrap in the price of having the garments professionally dry cleaned.
Tip #3: Prepare the garment for resale
Presentation is everything! Retailers have known this for years but most resellers don’t put enough time and effort into their packaging.
When it’s time for your vintage clothing to find a new owner, our best tip is to refresh your item before reselling it. Make sure to remove pilling, cut off loose threads, and steam it. If you are sending it to a professional cleaner, you don’t have much to worry about here, they can take care of that for you.
You could finish off your item by using a discreetly scented fabric spray to give the garment a fresh scent. Some other tips are to include a thank you card with your branding, to wrap the clothing in gift wrap, or to add some sort of bow or ribbon to decorate the garment inside the packaging.
Tip #4: You’ll close more sales with a better listing
When selling your clothes, you will generate more demand for your listings with great photos and a detailed description. This is Sales 101.
Always write the specific brand and item name in your listing. Specify which material the garment is made of, especially if it’s a luxury material like wool or silk. Mention both size and measurements and describe the condition of your garment in detail. Always mention if there are stains and where they’re located, as well as any loose hems or threads that couldn’t be remedied.
Remember to put some extra effort and include nice photos in your listing. Place your garment in front of a neutral background and use bright lighting for the best results. Here are some photo apps that might be helpful!
Tip #5: Buy a steamer for use between washes
We recommend steaming your clothes in between washes and hanging them in a well-ventilated area overnight to remove odors. This makes your garments feel fresh and crisp again. Hanging them outside works well for this if you can. While it might feel counter-intuitive, fresh air is fresh air!
Steaming will help in between washes and is much safer for garments needing delicate treatment.
For denim, we would recommend using a fabric spray or putting them in the freezer once in a while to eliminate smells.
2ULaundry now offers a Delicate Laundry Bag!
You can now choose which items get which treatment! This Delicates Bag is a flat-rate bag that you can stuff full of your delicate laundry.
The Delicates Bag is for your wash & fold garments that need gentle washing and low-temperature or air drying. For some people, it’s a few pairs of their favorite jeans. For others, it’s workout gear and leggings. However you decide to use this delicates bag, rest assured that the garments in this bag are getting specialized and separate treatment from the rest of your order.
2ULaundry will clean your clothes according to your preferences and have them back to you in 24 hours! We’re pros, so we know how to take care of stains, smells, and more!
2ULaundry is a premium laundry and dry-cleaning pick-up and delivery service available in Charlotte, Atlanta, Tampa, Austin, San Antonio, Houston, and Phoenix. Learn more about 2ULaundry and sign up on our website.
