Question about cleaning old wool blazers vs. synthetic sports jackets I got wrong for years

I used to dry clean all my vintage wool blazers the same way as my newer synthetic jackets, and the wool ones kept shrinking and losing shape after 3 trips. Last month I tried hand washing one with cold water and a mild soap like a friend from a forum told me, and it came out perfect no shrinkage at all. Has anyone else found a specific method that works better for older wool jackets without wrecking them?

2 comments

2 Comments

park.tara1d ago

Actually dry cleaning solvents can be harsh on old wool too, gentle hand washing is way better for vintage blazers.

andrew6931d ago

Hand washing is risky though... I've seen people shrink vintage blazers beyond repair with just lukewarm water and a gentle soap. Dry cleaners who know old fabrics can adjust their solvents and use lower heat. Plus those old wool blazers are usually cut with a stiff lining that might not handle hand washing the same way the wool does. I'd rather trust a pro who's been doing it 20 years than try to DIY something that could ruin a $200 thrift find.