I found an old table cloth and a table runner in some of my husbands mothers things. It is stained so I would love to clean it and use it any sage advice?
The best thing I have found for cleaning old linens is a good BIZ soak. I use a combination of BIZ and mild dish soap like ivory or dove. Fill a bucket with warm water and swish to dissolve the biz. Dampen your linens in water then immerse in the bucket. You can let them soak for several days if necessary. Sometimes if they are really bad they might take several soakings. Coffee stains can be a real problem esp. if the coffee had cream. Try rubbing a paste of the biz and work in gently with an old soft tooth brush. Then let soak. If the stain still doesn't come out you can try peroxide but it can bleach if the linens are cream colored and not white. If none of that works - try lemon juice and laying the linens on a green grassy surface in the sun. I hope that helps.
I was given a couple of sets of antique french linens a year ago and I have tried OH SO MANY THINGS! What I have found to be the best is to soak them in hot water (in the washing machine) covered by towels for at least an hour in my homemade laundry soap. Then I spin them out and hang them on the line to dry/bleach in the sun. If I had some grass I would lay them out there...couple more months. Now they were stained with body oils and such not sure what your linens have on them but I think I will start with this detergent with the next linen item I acquire. I have had good results with BIZ but I think it is the combo of Borax. Oxi-clean stuff, hot water and last but not least the sun. Good luck with your linens.
I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion. -Henry David Thoreau-
how do you clean old linens
Posted - Feb 27 2010 : 08:31:27 AM
