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This Guide was written by me, little "B" to give you some "Helpful Hints" on Cleaning & Restoring Vintage & Antique Linens. I do not claim to be an "Expert On Cleaning" nor a "Professional Cleaner" just a Gal who has a Love for "Old" textiles and is willing to share her "Laundry Secrets" in "Laymen's Terms" : )
After experimenting with an assortment of different products, I have finally found a treatment that is effective and yet gentle enough for some of the most delicate antique linens & lace.
First things First... Try to avoid Chlorine Bleach, I understand that some of you Gals know how to handle the "Bottle" on newer more modern textiles, but when working with Vintage and Antique pieces, this is a big "No,No" Also remember not all Linens are "White" so if it was not White to start with, why try & change it? Some antique fabrics have an Oyster Color, which is quite Beautiful & blends just fine with pure White : ) Others have a Natural Color & nubby look, also Beautiful and so on and so on...
I advise for Whites "Sun Bleaching" just place your item on a cloth & lay it flat in the Sun, make sure to check it frequently, especially if it also has a little color such as: Embroidery,in which case the rays may fade the thread! Give it a try...Women have been doing it for Centuries & it really does work!
This tip is for "Hand-Washing" so make sure you have a few buckets/basins, nothing fancy, but if you plan on doing a few pieces, keep them separated, give them their own space, No Crowding Please : )
Always soak your piece in Cold water First, before you wash or soak it with soap & HOT Water, rinse it really well to get out all the dust & top layers of grime. Then start your soaking process. Have patience, take your time, you can soak something for DAYS, keep Hand-Agitating & Rinsing, you will be amazed at the color of the water...Yucky, so keep rinsing : )
Now, I use a Laundry treatment called RLR made by Cadie, check your local Supermarket or you can check online, I have also seen it being sold on Ebay. It makes Whites Whiter & Colors Brighter, but has NO Bleach, Bluing or Detergent. It is not a cleaner,so first you must wash or soak your item. "Fels Naptha Soap" mixed with Arm and Hammer Laundry Booster & Borax is a wonderful combo for really OLD Linens. Oxyclean is good, but can cause Bluing on Certain Antique White Linen Fabrics...Found that out the hard way : (
If there are mysterious "Rust Spots" they may NOT actually be Rust, it may be that there was a storage problem...linen bugs...I know double Yucky, these spots most likely will turn to "Holes" if you try to scrub them out...You'll know soon enough if you keep scrubbing.
BE PATIENT, that's the key, if it took years to turn from white to brown, it really needs time to soak,soak,soak!
Last of all, Enjoy your Treasurers, Use Them!!!! Remember if cared for properly they will last for Generations!
Be Well & Blessings To All!
Guide created: 05/04/07 (updated 07/31/08)
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