Vintage T-shirt Storage and Maintenance

[CRAZYBUBBA]

Hi guys,

I'm a budding collector of vintage t-shirts and I've been buying some really cool unique stuff over the last couple month. I was wondering if anyone had any tips with regard to how to store t-shirts to avoid them from dying an early death, drying up, etc. I'm currently hand washing them VERY VERY gently and storing them in little plastic envelopes.

[CRAZYBUBBA]

Anyone? I really have no idea what I'm doing, any guidance would be much appreciated.

[jimmyj]

I use an extremely gentle soap called, SOAK - all you do is use a tablespoon of it and some luke warm water. You're not even supposed to agitate the garment in it, just leave it for 15 mins and take it out...no rinsing required either.

Then either flat or hang dry it.

As far as bags, as long as you have no moth problem and it's not in direct sunlight or in desert like climates...a drawer is okay.

[Johnny65]

No washer or dryer!

Hand wash and natural drying only.

[CRAZYBUBBA]

Yup, I'm definitely drying them flat. I've got a thing for super thin tees and I'm terrified of putting them on hangers.

[Frank]

i'm a fan of beating them up, wearing them out, and fading them to perfection, personally

however to maintain long life, i'd go with Woolite Black or Dark or whatever it's called for dark shirts and hand wash them and line dry them- just like you would with jeans that you want to preserve.