I frequently find old linens that are gorgeous and intact but have unsightly stains.  Using patience and the method below, old linens often can be restored.  In my experience, it is possible to remove stains without destroying the piece at least 95% of the time.

Ingredients

BIZ - at least 1 cup
Clorox powder (the blue one) - 1/2 cup
Dishwasher powder, any brand - 1/4 cup

Method

Add ingredients to washer and fill with hot water. Add linens and let washer agitate, but do not allow to drain and rinse. Some washers have an agitate or soak setting, but you have to manually control most of them (stopping before the drain and rinse). After 10 or 20 minutes of agitation, leave linens to soak in washer for 5 or 6 hours. Agitate again. Repeat this process 4 – 8 times (until you can see that stains are gone).
When you can see that the stains are gone, drain the washer and wash and dry normally.

Caution

How long pieces should be treated depends on how old and how extensive the stains are. I haven’t been able to find any shortcuts for this method.  The long soaking periods are vital to success.
Occasionally a delicate piece will disintegrate during treatment. If this happens, it wouldn't have survived normal washing either.
Because the ingredients in this quantity are expensive, I usually wait until I have at least half a washload before using this formula.

Wandering Creek Antiques