FAQ: Laundering Vintage Linens

One of my favorite things to collect and to sell at T-Party are vintage linens. Not the precious, fragile, lacy ones; I love the sturdy floral tablecloths and napkins from the 1940s and 50s. These beautifully designed textiles were usually made of heavyweight cotton which has allowed them to withstand the test of time. And since they have been well loved and well used, often times they are stained or have yellowed. I work hard to revive these beauties before I bring them in to sell at T-Party.

Which brings us to the question our shoppers, and also Clarice of Storybook Woods, have asked . . .

How do you get stains out of vintage linens?

I usually don’t let stains deter me from purchasing old floral tablecloths or napkins. If I like the design, I will always try to rescue them. Here’s an assortment, below, that I found earlier this week.

They have the usual food stains along with foxing (discoloration) at the creases. My secret weapon is Biz detergent. First I fill up my laundry sink with very hot water and a healthy dose of Biz.

In go all of the linens together. You don’t have to worry about colors running as the dyes used in most vintage cloths were made to be colorfast. Let them soak for a good long time.

After a while, the water will be less bubbly and will turn yellow which means the detergent is removing the stains. I then drain the sink and refill with more Biz and very hot water for additional soaking. Sometimes I’ll soak for a few hours, sometimes all day; it depends on how stubborn the stains are! Then into the washing machine (with regular laundry detergent), then the dryer and soon they’ll be ready to iron.

Alas, some stains are too stubborn and refuse to come out. But these floral textiles can still be enjoyed, so I’ll use their spot-free areas to make tea cozies, napkins, toaster covers, tea towels and pillows.

Vintage linens are perfect on a porch or for a picnic. So don’t be afraid to use them just because they may get soiled. Fresh stains are so much easier to get out than 50 year old ones! (A spritz of Shout will usually suffice.) While out thrifting, I hope you will find some cheerful vintage linens to use and enjoy this summer.

Susan

Comments

[charlotte]

Thanks, Susan...all good advice. And that's the cutest laundry sink I've seen in a long time! xoC

[Susan]

That's my laundry room/mud room at home. I painted the cabinets to match the wallpaper in my adjoining kitchen. It's super easy to do. I just used painters tape to tape off the stripes.

[thepinkkitchen]

I forgot to ask - is this sink in your house or the shop? I love the striped cabinets. :)

LA

[thepinkkitchen]

Thanks so much for sharing this, Susan. I've tried Oxy-clean with some luck. I had no idea the old linens were colorfast. I also learned a new term - "foxing".

Cheers! LA

[Gina E.]

In Australia we have a produce called Napisan which I think is equivalent to the products you mention here. Oh Susan, are you selling the cloth and napkins with the teapots on? If so, may I have first pick?? I LOVE them to bits! Tell me how much you want for them!!

[Tea Party Girl]

This is great info! Thanks for the pictures, too, always a treat on your blog.

[Daisy Cottage]

Bless you for sharing this with us Susan! I'll definitely try this with the ones that I find!
xo,
Kim

[Kim]

I have also boiled the linens in water that has detergent mixed in, for about 5 minutes...its amazing how white they get!!

[janet]

I've had really good luck using Oxy-Clean for the stubborn stains. Let them soak for a while, even overnight. You can also make a paste by adding a little water to the powder and scrub it in with a soft toothbrush. Just make sure you rinse it out really well.

I don't worry too much about stains either. You'll still end up with tons of fabric to work with!

[clarice]

Ohh cool, I am off to buy some Biz. It is that time of year when I pull out all my old white linens that has foxing and wash them all. I will try your method. Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. xoxox Clarice