It's happened again. You've fallen hopelessly in love with another old tablecloth, or apron, or set of napkins, or some other piece of vintage fabric you simply cannot live without!  Perhaps it's the way linen feels alive with its nubby texture, maybe it's the simple charm of anthropomorphic dish towels, it could be the bold patterns and vibrant colors of fruits, flowers, foliage and fauna, but whatever it is, you are hooked. So, now that you've acquired this wonderful textile, how do you take care of it?

WHAT NOT TO DO

• DO NOT fold old textiles--the fibers are fragile and folding places stress on them; instead, roll them. If you plan to store the items for a lengthy time, place tissue paper (acid-free) on the cloth prior to rolling to help reduce wrinkling.
• DO NOT hang textiles for long periods of time; the weight of the fabric can stretch weakened fibers. 
• DO NOT display textiles in direct or bright sunlight as this can cause fading as well as deterioration of fabric.
• DO NOT use chlorine bleach no matter how tempted you might be to open that bottle. I promise you, it will eat the fabric eventually.
• DO NOT depend upon the modern conveniences of the automatic washing machine and dryer. It is far better (and practically therapeutic!) to hand launder your vintage textiles and allow them to air dry.

In the case of old textiles, less really is more. Consider carefully whether or not it is necessary to subject the cloth to any sort of treatment at all. It is far better to learn to live with a stain than to weaken the fibers by exposing them to certain harsh chemicals or excessive manipulation.

Yellow Just Isn't Your Color, Madame

Light yellowing of fabric can be remedied in several ways without damaging the cloth.

I have had tremendous success getting perspiration stains on old pillowcases out with the following method. Soak the item overnight in a bucket of water to which you have added 1 cup of white vinegar. 

Another trick is to soak the item in a solution of 1/2 cup washing soda (made by Arm and Hammer; found in laundry detergent section) to a bucket of water. This lifts graying like magic.  A possible alternative is the use of Borateem a powdered laundry product.

I have had limited success with an overnight soak of 1/2 cup lemon juice to a bucket of water and would advise this solution on whites only. This works best if the items are allowed to dry in the sun. Sunshine is a fantastic brightener but avoid using clothespins as these stretch the fabric.

A time-honored and proven method of brightening whites is to add laundry blueing to the final rinse. You should be able to find this at a local store.

With any of these techniques be certain to rinse thoroughly; sometimes what is making the fabric look dingey is the accumulation of detergent in the fibers.

Out Damned Spot, Out I Say!

To treat a spot or stain always work from the back of the cloth to the front. If you rub the stain from the front, you are simply pushing it deeper into the fiber.

The simplest and cheapest way to remove some stains is to pour boiling water on the reverse side of the stain from a height of about 1 foot. You will need to do this repeatedly, but eventually you should see some results.

A solution of 1 tablespoon liquid dish detergent mixed with 1 tablespoon rubbing alcohol  can be brushed on a stain and allowed to work for up to 30 minutes. Rinse and repeat as necessary. I have had great success removing tomato-based stains in this manner.

Fels-Naptha bar soap can be used to pre-treat spots that are not set. Avoid rubbing at the spot--try brushing the soap on with a soft brush instead. Use another cloth to repeatedly blot the area.

I hope you find this information useful. May all your vintage textile dreams come true on E-bay (just don't bid against me!).