Question about whether to clean an item or not before selling

[twk]

I am fussy about what I sell and like to wash and clean items before selling.  It also helps me to check them out for damage.

Here is my question.  I came upon some very old, fine handkerchiefs, in the original box, from the time that fine store, heck most stores, had sales ladies and clerks who would help the customer with what she wanted and needed.  The box shows how things were packaged long before plastic, shrink wrap and self-service checkout.  The fabric is far nicer than generally seen being very fine and only has a monogram.

Alas, they have become what would have been referred to as "shop worn" at that time.  They haven't been out of the package, are still pinned together to show them attractively but have gotten soiled on the top from the years.  The backs and insides are clean but the tops, well not dirty or stained from use, have become discolored (as old linen does) from time etc.

The box is in fair shape with some staining over the years (I am dating these to back before WWII  and even further).

My question, after all that, is should I hand wash and press them and just put the box with them, so they are clean or leave them as they are as so many people have no idea of what shopping was like back then before the Wal-Mart's, the Sears, Roebuck and Co., etc.

One thing I do know is that I will never get them repined the nice way they are now back into the box. LOL!

[selforfun]

This is a wonderful and thoughtful question! Here's my advice based on experience selling vintage and antique items:

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To Clean or Not to Clean

When it comes to very old, fine items, especially textiles, there are pros and cons to both approaches:

Option 1: Leave Them As-Is

• Pros:

  • Keeps the authenticity intact, including the original presentation and packaging.
  • Many collectors prefer items in their untouched, original state.
  • Buyers might enjoy the opportunity to clean them themselves to their liking.

• Cons:

  • The discoloration may turn off potential buyers who aren't familiar with how age affects such items.
  • Some might perceive the discoloration as dirt, even if it's just natural aging.

Option 2: Clean Them Gently

• Pros:

  • Restores the beauty of the fabric, making it more appealing to non-collector buyers.
  • Allows you to showcase the true quality and fineness of the handkerchiefs.
  • You can highlight the effort you’ve taken to preserve their charm.

• Cons:

  • The cleaning process could damage the delicate fabric, especially if it’s very fine linen.
  • You lose the “as-found” originality that some collectors cherish.
  • Re-pinning them in their original display could be challenging.

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Recommendation

Consider the target audience for your listing:

• For Collectors: Leave the items as they are, highlighting their untouched condition and history in the description. Mention the discoloration as part of their charm and age.
• For Everyday Buyers or Gift Givers: Clean and press them carefully to appeal to someone who values appearance over historical authenticity.

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Compromise Approach

If you're unsure, leave them as-is but include a detailed description in the listing:

• Mention the discoloration and clarify that it's from age, not use.
• Add a note that you opted not to clean them to preserve their original state but that they could be hand-washed if the buyer chooses.
• Provide clear photos of the discoloration and the overall condition.

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Personal Insight

From my experience selling vintage and antique items, I’ve often faced similar dilemmas. I tend to lean towards preserving authenticity unless the discoloration makes the item unappealing to the broader audience. If I decide to clean an item, I always test a small, inconspicuous area first and use the gentlest method possible.

For items like yours, where the packaging and presentation are part of the story, leaving them untouched often adds to their value for collectors.

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Let us know how you decide to proceed! And if you'd like tips on how to phrase your listing, I’m happy to help. 😊

Reader! If you're in Myrtle Beach, SC, join our chapter eBay Legacy Sellers – click here.

[toysaver]

"I am fussy about what I sell and like to wash and clean items before selling."

I wash and clean anything and everything I bring into my house.  I even wash canned goods.  

[iamcara]

i think not cleaning antique and old vintage items would open up sales to more potential buyers, as many people seek them out for nostalgia or seek authenticity which would include the wear and tear that time has put onto the object in question

old items are also fragile so theres that factor as well, many buyers would not want you to clean it for this reason

while not as barbaric as restoring old paintings, i think i would prefer my antiques to not be cleaned

[yuzuha]

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@iamcara wrote:

i think not cleaning antique and old vintage items would open up sales to more potential buyers, as many people seek them out for nostalgia or seek authenticity which would include the wear and tear that time has put onto the object in question

old items are also fragile so theres that factor as well, many buyers would not want you to clean it for this reason

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There's also the fact that many people who collect items like that know how to clean them properly without damaging them, so it's usually best to let them handle that part as chances are they will have far more knowledge and experience on that front than you.

[adamcartwright]

@toysaver 

Honest questions:

That must be very time-consuming. How do you find time to do anything else? 

What about mail? Money?

For bags that sat in the grocery cart, do you bring those in the house or leave them outside?

[chapeau-noir]

I leave as is, in original condition and am careful to outline any stains. I also will mention how to clean such items, as I've cleaned quite a few 19th century/early 20th century fabrics - though agree, a collector will know, but I do it as a public service.

Also, I would flip the corner of the handkerchief to show that the original colouring - this helps define the fact that it's new old stock with some shop staining.

BTW, that fabric is going to be tougher than you think - they don't actually sound all that old as things go, and handkerchiefs, even fine Irish linen ones, were meant to be used, so your shopper/collector will probably be very comfortable restoring them themselves.

[ryry-jj]

NO!! Do not wash this item.   Don't even hand touch this item, leave as is to sell

[meme6253]

Selforfun has it all summed up for you, Personally i would leave the item as is, But of course the decision is yours, Thank you for the nostalgic journey down memory lane.

[toysaver]

Not time consuming, just routine.  Mail gets opened in the garage by the paper shredder, rarely comes inside.  Cash money, what little there is stays in the car, in the garage.  It has little use at home.  The groceries are also staged from garage.  I use a laundry basket to get them inside.  I promise I am not OCD.   It's the stuff from thrift stores that is time consuming.  I use antibacterial wipes as a first line of defense, then they can go from the garage to the porch for further inspection and deep cleaning if needed.  Cleaning items takes seconds and is never time consuming; it's the drying process takes forever.

[twk]

Thank you all for the responses.   I was leaning on selling them as they were.

I want to say that while I clean most items, I do not clean anything where it would do harm.  For instance, I have an antique copper coffee/tea pot up for sale and have not touched that.  I did wash the dirt off of it and rinse out the inside so that spider webs would be gone, nobody wants those.

I just clean, general clean, wax out of candle cups and candles, dirt off porcelain, clean glasses etc.  I expect antiques to have signs of wear etc.

But what does get to me are sellers that list items that are so filthy that I would not touch with a l0 ft. designer barge pole.  Or sell a modern Williams Sonoma tablecloth all wrinkled and stained---eeww!   Those sellers are just lazly yet seem to want top dollar.

[twk]

I am inclined to agree with you.  As a seller  and historian I hate to harm anything that has lasted a long time.  Kind of like a physician, you know, do no harm.

[brightlightbookseller]

We sell books, so a different type of item, but we generally stick to what's been advised here and don't clean older items.  Sometimes a newer item we'll remove stickers that have been added after purchase or clean up a dusty jacket, but for older items the most we do is preserve the dust jacket by putting it in a plastic cover.  If it was actually moldy or mildewed, where it might harm other books, we just don't keep it at all.  I would agree with those who say don't clean them.

[adamcartwright]

@toysaver 

Do you and your family get sick less frequently than the average bear, using this system?