Vintage Dri-Pak Salt Shaker!

We were thrilled to see a photo of this retro Dri-Pak salt shaker from the 1960s sent in by Twitter follower @garbie1974. 

As an independent family run business, quite a few of our team remembered using them! If you have any retro Dri-Pak packaging lying around, we'd LOVE to see!

5 Vintage Spring Cleaning tips

We know, that you know, that traditional cleaning methods & products are just as good (if not better) than modern ones! So to help kick off your Spring Clean, we’ve put together 5 of our top Vintage Spring Cleaning tips tackling the jobs that often get forgotten in the regular cleaning routine.

Windows 

Spray White Vinegar onto windows and mirrors, & buff with scrunched up newspaper for a streak-free finish.

Polish Silverware 

Line a tub with tin foil and add a strong Soda Crystals solution before immersing silverware or jewellery for 15 minutes. Watch as the dirt dissolves away, before buffing with a soft cloth.*

Blankets and Woollens 

Soak fabrics in a mild Soda Crystals solution before carefully hand washing with Liquid Soap Flakes.

Furniture Polish 

Mix 3 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 tablespoon White Vinegar and apply to wood with a soft cloth using a circular motion. Leave to air dry before buffing.

Carpets 

Sprinkle Bicarbonate of Soda on carpets and rugs and leave overnight before vacuuming, for a fresh smell. 

*Not recommended for jewellery with plated silver or soft opals

Protecting your Vintage Clothes

Fashion from yesteryear was made to last, but as garments get older the fibres begin to weaken and many modern-day washing techniques and products can cause damage. By following these gentle maintenance techniques using traditional products, you can preserve your favourite vintage items and enjoy wearing them for years to come!

Removing odours

Vintage items can have a musty smell due to long periods of storage, but this can be removed naturally and safely. Simply fill a bath tub 10cm deep with very hot water, and add 500ml White Vinegar, then hang the item above the bath as close to the water as possible without touching it. The White Vinegar steam will naturally deodorise the musty odour, and will also help any creases to drop out!

Washing

Make sure any repairs are made to the garment before washing, as the agitation from washing can worsen any pre-existing damage.

Some washing machines have a delicate setting which may be suitable for garments, but if you want to be as gentle as possible, hand wash delicate items.

Steer clear from modern laundry detergents as harsh chemicals can damage the fibres. Using a traditional product like Soap Flakes is ideal because they are simply pure soap with no fragrances, bleach, optical brighteners or detergents, in fact many of the vintage garments around today were probably originally washed in Soap Flakes! We now produce Liquid Soap Flakes which offer the same gentle cleaning power but in an easy to use liquid form. Add 1-2 capfuls of Liquid Soap Flakes to a large bowl or bathtub of warm water, press the garment into the water and gentle push and squeeze the soap suds through the fibres. Never vigorously rub or twist the garment as this may cause damage. Repeat the technique in clean water as many times a necessary to completely remove all the suds, or rinse the item using the shower head.

Drying

Heat is the main cause of damage for many older garments, so avoid tumble drying at all costs! Leave items to dry naturally laid flat on a drying rack or mesh, as drying on hangers can pull the fabric and misshape the garment.

If the garment needs ironing, take extra care. Use the lowest setting to start, and slowly increase the heat until the creases are removed. Some fabrics like velvet should never be ironed, so do your research before grabbing the iron!

Steaming garments is a preferable alternative as it doesn’t involve direct contact with heat. If you don’t have access to a professional steamer, try hanging the garment in the bathroom when you have a shower.

Storage

Storing delicate garments carefully is important to ensure they are kept free from harm. Always fold delicate garments rather than hanging, as it can stretch and cause stress to the fibres. Another no-no is using plastic to store items as it can damage fabric by trapping in moisture as well as affecting plastic buttons and embellishments. Wrapping the garment in acid-free paper is the best alternative.

Following our top maintenance tips will keep your prized vintage items looking great for longer! 

What's your favourite piece of vintage clothing?

Keep vintage clothing as good as new!

We love our vintage clothes! Eco-friendly and long lasting, frankly we think classic vintage clothes never go out of fashion! From the graphic lines and mini-skirts of the swinging 60s, to the silk stockings and ever-changing skirt hemlines of the 40s, even the most modern, cutting edge designers draw inspiration from the fashion of past eras.

Check out the fantastic vintage clothes section on Oxfam's website for some real retro gems - you'll feel even better knowing that your cash is going to a great cause.

Original vintage clothes not only look great, they carry with them a charm and a sense of history. However, vintage clothing needs very gentle washing if it is to be preserved properly. Many modern detergents are unsuitable for the fragile natural materials because they are simply too harsh and will cause damage to the weakened fibres.

Want to know a well kept secret amongst people who restore and preserve vintage clothing? They use Soap Flakes! It makes sense - when many of today’s vintage clothes were the newest fashion hot off the rails (or even someone’s sewing machine!) they would have most likely been washed with Soap Flakes. Soap Flakes did a great job of cleaning the garment without destroying the delicate fibres – which is probably why the clothes look just as great today as they did when they were brand new!

Now Dri-pak have launched Liquid Soap Flakes – with all the great benefits of regular soap flakes but in a liquid! Not only are Liquid Soap Flakes fantastic for delicate washing, they can even be used easily at cooler temperatures, meaning vintage clothing will be effectively cleaned without further risk from heated water. They can also be used on modern items of clothing, whenever delicate cleaning is required.

Liquid Soap Flakes are available in a 750ml bottle retailing at £2.99 and are available from Tesco, Waitrose and through the Dri-Pak website: www.dri-pak.co.uk