Clean Vintage Quilts and Linens

[@roxywood5278]

Oh My Stars !! Thank you..... I'm Blessed that a friend told me about you.... :)

[@KellyClineQuilting]

Great!! 😊

[@MH-pw3vy]

My grandmother (1902-2007!) swore by the power of the sun for stain removal and for simply whitening her clothing and table linens. FYI, she lived in the city and set aside an area on a concrete patio for laying out the items--she also placed a small pane of glass over the more stubborn stains. I don't ever remember seeing stains on anything. Now, I will be using your and her techniques to maintain the linens I inherited from her. Thank you! PS: yes she lived to 105!

[@KellyClineQuilting]

Awesome!! Those ladies knew simple things!!

[@cindyruss4342]

Thank you! I’ve not had the courage to wash my grandmother’s 95+ year old quilt. Now we will be able to enjoy it!

[@KellyClineQuilting]

Wonderful! Good luck!!

[@AmyGammon-u3w]

Thanks for sharing your expertise! I am about to clean a sampler that my mom made for me in 1959. I never would have considered using hot water, because I'm worried that the embroidery thread colors will run. How can I be sure? I'm hoping to give this piece to my granddaughter, once I clean it.

[@KellyClineQuilting]

Hi Amy, take a wet cloth with hot water and press on your floss. If it’s going to bleed, you’ll see it come off on the cloth most likely. Then, when you start soaking, watch the water. If you see color come out, then rinse in cold water and stop soaking. You might also use some Shout color catchers.

[@juliemoore8114]

I noticed you were cleaning a quilt top. Can I use it for finished quilts? Thanks for the great video!!!

[@KellyClineQuilting]

Sure can!! I have a video on my channel here to clean a quilt in a front loading washing machine, look around for it!

[@kathy5438]

Thanks for sharing all this information Kelly!

[@blakemccabe15]

i can't seem to find direct comparisons between using restoration and retro clean. What's better?

[@alisondodge3809]

Thank you!

[@jonnaosborne1832]

I would love to be able to do this, but I live in a very dusty, windy area, with lots of birds and several feral cats in the neighborhood. In my yard, there is more dust, dirt and desert weeds than grass. The pieces would likely end up in somebody else's yard, covered with dust and bird poo. So, it's likely going to be inside drying on a rack for me. Would it help at all to use a sun lamp?

[@KellyClineQuilting]

That’s ok, it’s fine to dry inside. No, it’s actually the chlorophyll with the sunshine that makes that extra whitening happen. ;)

[@tlarson3066]

Thank you for this information! I've been saving 3 drawers of vintage linens, and now i have an easy process to clean them!! Question about rinsing...what water temperature to use? Cold water? Thanks again!

[@KellyClineQuilting]

Yes, just rinse in cold water!

[@MsBethharris]

Kelly, thank you❣️ I have some very old fabric items that have badly yellowed. Knowing the chemical involved will help me to find the Australian equivalent.

[@KellyClineQuilting]

@@MsBethharris great!

[@kimbeckner9240]

So you’re not worried the deer will come for dinner? 😂😂😂. Love you, Kelly! Thanks for sharing this. I needed a good reminder. I knew it was simple enough. And I also wondered at the active ingredient 🤔.

[@KellyClineQuilting]

Ha, no, they don't come during daylight usually!

[@RachaelMontgomery-i7m]

Thanks so much Kelly! When you rinse and then reseal do you make up a new solution with the Retro Clean or rinse and re rinse in hot water? Thank you!!!

[@KellyClineQuilting]

If the first soak has done the job, then I just rinse in cold water. If there are still light stains, I’ll do a new mix of Retro Clean soak (don’t need the ammonia) and then repeat.

[@bradcelianelson6088]

Wonderful video

[@maryjones3369]

Awesome video…thank you❤️❤️

[@sherri9417]

This is wonderful! I too live in a windy area. I wonder if I could put a sheet on the lawn and then the quilt top and place some river rocks in the corners to keep from blowing away? Also, do you spot treat? I have a few tops that have a dark stain (looks like chocolate syrup) and i wondered if I should gently "scrub" it with a toothbrush or something before washing. Thank you for passing along your wisdom!!

[@KellyClineQuilting]

Hi Sherri, I’ve actually ‘clothespinned’ linens and quilts TO the grass, that works well! Yes to spot cleaning. I’ve used various products, with the first try being SHOUT. Then, Dawn blue liquid if it might be grease. Try those!

[@lindaroberts7961]

I’ve used retro lean on old linens. On embroidered items I’ve had a little trouble with bleeding of the floss. Do you do embroidered separately?

[@KellyClineQuilting]

I do everything together, but if there’s black, I may not soak it. Old black floss has a tendency to disintegrate or bleed.

[@krysteenehills8045]

Do you have any experience with cleaning crochet blankets?

[@KellyClineQuilting]

@@krysteenehills8045 I sure don’t.

[@lynnb.5937]

Sweet! I have some brownish textiles that I have been hanging onto for years in hopes of finding a fix for them. Do you think results from your recommended process will be affected if I have tried other things (vinegar, dawn, woolite) on them in the past, including the heat of the dryer?

[@KellyClineQuilting]

It seems to take care of any yellowing or browning. I’d give it a shot!

[@sherriejohnson508]

Thank you for sharing

[@wyominghome4857]

I had a recipe years ago that involved mixing dishwasher detergent with powdered bleach, pouring in boiling water, adding the linens, soaking for 1-4 hours, rinsing, then drying the linens in the sun. Worked like a charm. If anyone has that recipe I would love to have it again.

[@KellyClineQuilting]

I hesitate adding any kind of bleach with color floss on linens. Whatever works though!

[@yenylevano221]

Do u have any advise for suede handbag yellow by sun and dirt?

[@KellyClineQuilting]

So sorry, I don't know anything about suede!

[@suzannecordova7527]

Does Retroclean bleach any of the embroidery?

[@KellyClineQuilting]

No

[@KellyClineQuilting]

It’s magical, whitens and brightens, but doesn’t take out color. Has no bleach in it.

[@saltlifegull4091]

Awesome! How do you compare oxyclean to this product?

[@KellyClineQuilting]

They are both oxygenated cleaning solutions is what I understand. Very similar!

[@dr.loism.campbell2567]

What about reds- do I need a color grabber

[@KellyClineQuilting]

Certainly a good idea!!

[@dr.loism.campbell2567]

Do you do a color grabber BEFORE the other "soap" - if so - do you let it set for 24 hours priors to other soap. TIA.@@KellyClineQuilting

[@KellyClineQuilting]

@@dr.loism.campbell2567 I put color catchers in with the soak. Can be done all together!

[@patg8932]

What about if the wind comes up? All the work laying those out and then whoosh!

[@KellyClineQuilting]

I use clothespins and clip to the grass if there will be a breeze. I do watch the weather and make sure it's not a windy day. I live in KS, so that's a given! ;)

[@CC-jt5fc]

How long would an old quilt take to dry in the 70*’s?

[@KellyClineQuilting]

Maybe an afternoon?

[@quiltedbrownie]

Thx! 🤩🙌

[@suzannecordova7527]

Interesting!!!

[@billiedickinson9893]

Kelly I have several quilt tops that have mold spots. I had a flood, and the contents people left my goods wet in plastic bags for weeks. Hence, they all have been washed, but I still have stain spots from the mold. I'm wondering will restoration product work on this or vingear? Thanks for your help.

[@KellyClineQuilting]

Hi Billie, I would try the Retro Clean with the ammonia in the water.

[@billiedickinson9893]

@@KellyClineQuilting So... I'm thinking a cup of each? I haven't bought the retro clean yet

[@KellyClineQuilting]

@@billiedickinson9893 Retro Clean is 4T per gallon of water and yes, maybe a cup of ammonia.

[@suzannecordova7527]

Do you neighbors think it is an S.O.S. signal? 😁

[@KellyClineQuilting]

Hahaha, no, but they do threaten to come over and shop my yard!