Multiple Query-My Stuff Got Soaked-What To Do?

[NewYorkIslander]

OK, I just was walking home from work without an umbrella and got DUMPED on. Jacket, soaked, wound up turning it inside out to use as a cover, so its actually more wet on the silk lining than on the outside. pants soaked, shoes soaked. I assume hang dry should be ok for it all, then take to a good cleaners?

Jacket is from Ercole, so fully canvassed, pants all wool, shoes, calf (perhaps corrected grain). Just put the trees in so that would help get some water out. Its not as bad as I'm making it sound, but its not just a few drops of water.

Did I do the right thing?

 

[voxsartoria]

Take the jacket back to Ercole for re-pressing, unless it stinks. If it does, see whom they recommend as a cleaner and if possible, just have it cleaned and leave it to Ercole to press.

Just send the pants to the cleaners...it probably doesn't need attentive ironing.

BTW, situations like that are a good reason to duck into a bar for a drink.


- B

 

[luftvier]

Leave the trees in for a bit, but take them out to let the shoes properly dry all the way. Otherwise you risk mold and mildew. I learned the hard way.

 

[radicaldog]

What Vox said. For the shoes, you can try stuffing them with paper fist (old newspapers) to absorb most of the water, and then insert the trees. But this is probably overkill.

 

[MyOtherLife]

What Vox recommended.
As for the shoes, stuff with newspaper, even todays paper.
Lay some sheets of newspaper also on the floor and let the shoes rest on it.
This should help wick away the moisture from within and the soles.
After 1-2 days, get the shoe trees in them and lotion the shoes.
Give it another day and they should be fine.

 

[polar-lemon]

+1 on the newspaper, has worked well for me. I've read that you're not supposed to use trees when the shoes are still soaking, though I can't vouch for the validity of that statement.

 

[alliswell]

Make sure to put the shoes on a drying rack so the soles are off the ground.

 

[BlueHorseShoe]

Originally Posted by polar-lemon

+1 on the newspaper, has worked well for me. I've read that you're not supposed to use trees when the shoes are still soaking, though I can't vouch for the validity of that statement.

Bit late to the party, but I can vouch for this statement. I had a pair of loafers get absolutely drenched. To the point where I took them off my feet and poured out half a cup of water. Really really wet. I did what I thought I should do and treed them. Unfortunately, the trees stretched the leather and now they fit half a size too big.

I guess this probably depends on the thickness and quality of the leather, but keep in mind that they might stretch.

+1 on the newspaper/paper towels and get them off the ground.

 

[acidboy]

get new suit and shoes.

 

[emptym]

Darn.

Ya, I'd definitely stuff the shoes w/ newspaper and switch the newspaper out as it gets wet.

For the jacket and pants, you could lay them each on a clean towel, roll the towel with the stuff inside and press them to get some of the moisture into the towel. Then hang, assess, etc.