Saturday, July 16, 2011

Care Of Vintage Compacts

Care Of Vintage Compacts
I just thought I would share a bit of information on the care of vintage compacts with everyone. I've found so many wonderful old compacts that have been abused by their owners. It could be that their owners simply do not know how to properly care for these vintage beauties.
Always clean out any loose powder from the compact to avoid damage to the mirror and metal. Use a soft dry cloth, and if needed a Q-tip to clean any traces from corners and edges of the piece.
Also, if there are powder puffs in the compact make sure they are clean, as the oil deposits from powder and skin oils can permanently damage the compact.
To clean your powder puff use a very gentle soap and cold water. Gently clean the puff and pat dry, and then let it air dry. If they are too damaged to clean I would suggest removing it from the compact to avoid any damage to the mirror and metal areas of the piece.
To shine and protect your compact you can use a good car wax, such as Mother's (carnaubawax); and gently polish with a soft cloth. This will help to shine the piece, as well as put a protective coating that will help to repel moisture.
Always store your compact out of direct sunlight to avoid crazing, cracking and fading of any enamel or leather.
If you treat you vintage compact with a little TLC it will be a beauty for years to come; and you will be helping to keep a piece of history for generations to come.

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