Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
The Archive Care Kit: How to Restore & Save Vintage Clothes
19
items This care kit is the definitive guide to restoring vintage clothing and maintaining the integrity of your rare finds! From removing 30 year old stains to repairing delicate seams, these are the tools used by vintage resellers to bring pre loved piece...
This is what I use for my deep soaking baths. It’s oxygen based, so it breaks down organic stains and brightening whites without the damage of chlorine bleach. A tub of this is a reseller's best friend.
OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover
I use these bins for more than just storage. They're perfect for soaking 10–15 vintage tees at once in an Oxi-bath. They’re deep enough to keep everything submerged and durable enough to handle the weight of the water.
Commander Heavy Duty Storage Totes
Never throw vintage grails in the dryer! I air dry everything to prevent shrinking and to keep the graphics from cracking. A foldable rack is essential for keeping the airflow moving around the garments while they dry!
Foldable Drying Rack
I stuff my damp hats with microfiber towels. They absorb the excess moisture from the inside out while providing enough structure to pop the crown back into its original shape. Plus, they're reusable!
Microfiber Towels
The ultimate free reshaping tool! I keep a stash of plastic grocery bags specifically for hats. They're perfect because you can add or remove bags to get the exact tension needed for different hat sizes while they dry.
Grocery Bag Dispenser
You need a brush that’s tough on dirt but gentle on vintage screen prints. Horsehair is soft enough to scrub a 90s graphic without cracking the ink and it’s perfect for cleaning sweatbands on hats.
Horsehair Brush
This soak is specifically formulated for old lace, linens and cottons that turned brown or yellow over decades. It doesn’t use harsh bleach and it uses an enzyme based lift that preserves the fabric while restoring its original brightness.
Retro Wash: Gentle Textile Restoration Soak
Standard irons are the enemy of vintage silk! This micro steamer provides a gentle flow that releases wrinkles without the risk of scorching 50 year old fibers. It’s small enough to take to thrift stores or estate sales to preview how a garment will ...
Handheld Micro Steamer for Delicate Silks
This magnifying lamp allows you to see thinning fibers or loose threads that the naked eye misses. It’s essential for ensuring the structural integrity of a vintage piece before you wear it or list it for resale.
Professional Stitch-by-Stitch Magnification Lamp
The #1 enemy of a vintage collection is moths! These 100% natural cedar blocks infused with lavender oil are the sustainable way to protect your wool and silk pieces. They provide a fresh, clean attic scent without the toxic chemicals of old school m...
Cedar & Lavender Pest-Guard Scented Blocks
These are the secret to keeping vintage leather boots and loafers from cracking! These 100% red cedar trees absorb moisture and odors while maintaining the shape of the shoe. If you're sourcing vintage boots, these are great for ensuring the leather ...
Aromatic Red Cedar Shoe Trees
This is the emergency room for expensive vintage. Madame Paulette is the legendary NYC cleaner for couture and this kit contains their proprietary formulas for ink, blood, wine, and grease. Unlike grocery store pens, these are pH-neutral and safe for...
Madame Paulette’s Professional Stain Removal Kit
Originally used as a horse shampoo, this paste is the professional choice for washing fragile 19th century textiles. It is a 'sodium lauryl sulfate' cleaner that contains no optical brighteners or harsh chemicals, making it the safest way to hand was...
Orvus WA Paste: The Conservator’s Detergent
This bar is unbeatable for treating heavy vintage stains like oil, grease and perspiration on cuffs and collars. It’s a dry application bar, which allows you to target specific spots without soaking the entire garment.
Fels-Naptha Laundry Bar & Stain Remover
Crucial for preventing the yellow fold lines that ruin stored vintage. Use buffered paper for cottons and linens and unbuffered for silk and wool. Layering this between folds prevents acid migration and protects your rarest pieces from breaking at th...
Acid-Free Tissue Paper (Buffered & Unbuffered)
Never store vintage in plastic dry cleaning bags; plastic traps moisture and gases that cause decay. These 100% cotton muslin bags allow air to circulate while keeping out dust and moths. It’s the most important investment you can make for pieces tha...
Breathable Cotton Muslin Garment Bags
A gentle steamer is the safest way to remove wrinkles from rayon, silk and crepe without the risk of scorching. This portable model is a favorite for its steady flow, ensuring you don't 'spit' hot water on sensitive antique fibers.
Rowenta Pure Pop Handheld Steamer
Essential for any care kit. Because vintage sizing varies wildly by decade, you should always measure your pieces before and after cleaning to ensure no shrinkage has occurred. A soft, fiberglass tape won’t stretch or damage delicate necklines like a...
Tailor’s Flexible Measuring Tape
Many vintage pieces are discarded because of a loose thread or a fallen hem. These self threading needles are perfect for the non-sewer to perform quick repairs that keep a garment wearable for another 20 years.
Self Threading Needles for Quick Repairs