[Smokeshow]

I was an idiot and washed a WW2 shelter half in the washing machine without even thinking about what it would do to the canvas. Now it has the distressed white marks on it and I am afraid that I ruined it. Any ideas or tips for fixing this problem? Any help is greatly appreciated!

This post has been edited by Smokeshow: Oct 29 2009, 10:41 PM

[Forum Support]

I was an idiot and washed a WW2 shelter half in the washing machine without even thinking about what it would do to the canvas. Now it has the distressed white marks on it and I am afraid that I ruined it. Any ideas or tips for fixing this problem? Any help is greatly appreciated!

White marks? Did you use bleach?

It's hard to imagine what would cause those. Did you try scrubbing the marks with a stiff brush to if it's perhap soap residue?

[37thguy]

I think I know what you are referring to. They are more like wrinkles throughout. I'd try using a spray bottle with water and try ironing it?

This post has been edited by 37thguy: Oct 30 2009, 03:35 AM

[Sabrejet]

I was an idiot and washed a WW2 shelter half in the washing machine without even thinking about what it would do to the canvas. Now it has the distressed white marks on it and I am afraid that I ruined it. Any ideas or tips for fixing this problem? Any help is greatly appreciated!

A similar thing happened to me some time ago. I had a slightly soiled but otherwise good lightweight gasmask bag which I thought would benefit from a quick wash...I mean it's tough military grade canvas, right? Well..not quite. When it emerged it was certainly clean but its od colour was mottled all over with lighter patches. I suspect it was the effect of modern detergents on unstable 65 year old dyes? Unfortunately, in my case the change was permanent. Hope you have better luck, but somehow I doubt you will.

[General Apathy]

I was an idiot and washed a WW2 shelter half in the washing machine without even thinking about what it would do to the canvas. Now it has the distressed white marks on it and I am afraid that I ruined it. Any ideas or tips for fixing this problem? Any help is greatly appreciated!

Hi Smokeshow, I think what you are refering to are 'highspots ' where the material has suffered wear and trauma during it's life, if left unwashed the canvas looks fine, however once washed there is no going back, you cannot put back what has been removed i.e. the dyes.

Over the years of collecting, owning and laterly selling these canvas items I have encountered this many times, and found items that have even been re-dyed to try and repair the damage done by washing the item becomes unrecognisable compared to it's original manufacturers dyes and finish.

In army manuals on care and use of equipment it states wait until the mud or such has dried and then brush off with a stiff brush but do not wash. Blanco was invented to brush on and ' hide ' these wear marks on canvas, but that is an horrible compound in it's self.

So to all members reading this email I would suggest do not wash, it will not look the same as before.

Cheers ( Lewis )

This post has been edited by General Apathy: Oct 30 2009, 04:37 AM

[hawkdriver]

It's toast. It comes from the spin cycle where it wrenches the materail real hard and causes the fibers to stretch, exposing the un-dyed materail underneath and then returning back into it's original position. I have been issued shelter halves that have been washed commercially and they came out that way, never were water repellent again either. The canvas has light colored lines that look like wrinkles, right?

[TJM]

When I was young, I was told by a WWI vet they would bring the color back to canvas by soaking it in coffee. Never tried this, but appearently it was a fairly common pratic.

[hawkdriver]

Might work, but that was for Khaki. You could dye the material again, but then it will still show as there is no way to keep the dye from also dying the already green stuff, so it will never look %100 again.

[Smokeshow]

It's toast. It comes from the spin cycle where it wrenches the materail real hard and causes the fibers to stretch, exposing the un-dyed materail underneath and then returning back into it's original position. I have been issued shelter halves that have been washed commercially and they came out that way, never were water repellent again either. The canvas has light colored lines that look like wrinkles, right?

Yeah, they look kind of distressed. They are not super bad but this also happens to be a family heirloom so I am super worried I may have ruined i forever

[fortworthgal]

Okay, first off, these are either the stretch/wear marks mentioned above, or it is just soap residue. I've had this happen and it is entirely possible, especially with a larger bulky item such as a shelter half that might not agitate well, and with the amount of soap most people dump into their laundry. Once the item is dry, try wetting it lightly and brushing it to see if that helps. If it is soap, it'll come off with minimal effort.

Second, DO NOT try the coffee trick!!! Yes I'm sure it was an old trick and yes it'll work (dyeing with coffee & tea is an ancient practice), but coffee and tea both contain acid, and will eventually break down the fabric. Of course guys back then weren't worrying about that, but if you're trying to preserve a 70 year old item - DON'T do it.

I've had quite good luck re-dying lots of items - mostly reproduction items that have faded. If the fabric is 100% cotton then yes, you could dye it successfully and the light marks would not show. It is a fairly easy process and I could type it all out for you, including the dye formula depending on what color you are trying to achieve. I'm a RIT dye specialist. However, on a family heirloom, I'm not sure I'd try it. I would probably try the brushing and then just leave it alone and chalk it up to experience.

Bottom line is use caution when cleaning original items! I've washed a lot of original items and if you err on the side of caution, it can be done.


This post has been edited by fortworthgal: Nov 2 2009, 11:13 AM

[jgawne]

An off the top of my head suggestion is to soak it in lukewarm water again to get it really wet. then strech it out normally (as in no rope pulling it tight) on a flat surface out of the sun and allow to dry. If it is stretched material (which seems pretty possible) that may note the may) let the weaving move slight back into shape.

[Smokeshow]

Thanks for the tips guys! I will have to give them a try and let you know how it turns out! I will post some before and after shots as well and also discuss which processes I used.