Learn the Best Way to Clean Vintage Table Linens ~ 3 Ways Tried & Tested! ~ Cleaning Old Tablecloths

[@AdorntheTable]

Have you tried any of these 3 ways to clean old table linens? Were you surprised by my results? I'd love to know.

[@pennyoverstreet3969]

I received a bunch of baby clothes from friends when pregnant with my daughter. They were adorable but most had spit up stains. This was 30 years ago before oxyclean was sold. I soaked all of them in the dishwasher powder and they all came out like new, even the bright colors came out without colorbleed. Even though I now use pods in the dishwasher I still keep a box of the dishwasher powder on hand for stains on clothes and linens 😊

[@AdorntheTable]

So neat to hear that dishwasher powder is still your go-to tough stain remover! Thanks for sharing!! 😀

[@olgadiaz3813]

Wow! I was shock that the cheaper detergent worked best!! I am going to try it. Great job.

[@AdorntheTable]

I know ~ right! Let me know how it works for you.

[@claudiathomas8171]

Thank you for this useful video. About 40 years ago, I learned about dishwasher detergent and it worked wonders on my great great grandmother’s vintage wedding dress! I wore it when I got married.

[@AdorntheTable]

You're welcome. So glad you like it. That's awesome that it worked on your great, great, grandmother's wedding dress ~ and that you wore it!!!! 😀

[@cowgirlemporium]

That's awesome to know it can be used on fabrics! I actually use Powdered dishwasher detergent to wash the outside of my RV! 😊

[@AdorntheTable]

LOL! That's awesome!

[@ryannsmith3450]

I kept one of my moms handkerchief linen with her embroidered first name initial. your video will help me clean it and use it to wrap my moms jewelery to give my daughter on mothers day THANK YOU - Hawaii

[@AdorntheTable]

You are welcome 😊. What a wonderful way to present a gift to your daughter!

[@amysilin8122]

I don't consider these napkins super delicate vintage linens, but the information was worthwhile for sure!

[@AdorntheTable]

True, the napkins are vintage but I wouldn't describe them as super delicate. I have used the same method with more delicate pieces and it has been effective. I would suggest starting with the most mild option when working with delicate vintage pieces. So glad to hear you found the video useful.

[@seiblair43]

I have some from my mother, the tablecloths are all white and very, very old, so I will try this very soon.

[@AdorntheTable]

You're fortunate to have inherited them. I love old tablecloths.

[@anntaylor8111]

Awesome!👏

[@pturco2285]

@@AdorntheTable I have a vintage crocheted tablecloth that I use on my bed!

[@AdorntheTable]

@@pturco2285 That's wonderful! It must be a large tablecloth. 😀

[@briteddy9759]

Interesting experiment! There is one more wildcard and that is the type of stain. You said enzymes will break down the oils. So Biz should be efficient if we have an oil stain, but if it something else, Biz might not be the best. I will have to try the dishwasher detergent. Another way of whitening is to lay your whites on snow or grass. These are historic ways of whitening.

[@AdorntheTable]

Yes, the wildcard with vintage linens is that you don't know what caused the stain(s). Which is why I found this experiment interesting. If you try using dishwasher detergent, I'd love to know your results. I know loads of people suggest laying linens on wet grass in direct sun, unfortunately, I can't try this as I have dogs. 🐶😀

[@dale3404]

Biz is still being sold? Good to know as I was looking for it recently. Oxi-clean works well, but not on all things.

[@AdorntheTable]

I do like Oxi-clean, but it isn't always the answer to the stain. Hope you find Biz close by. 🙂

[@lindathomas3457]

Really good to know! Good job!

[@AdorntheTable]

Glad it was helpful!

[@paigeschultz6951]

Thx so much! Will soak in a plastic basin? I was wondering about soaking in washer… but the detergent might be strong?

[@AdorntheTable]

I soak in a separate plastic container, often for many days, because that leaves my washing machine free for regular laundry. I have a front loading machine that doesn't allow for soaking. If you have a top loading machine, it's harder to soak items with the center piece in the way. Hope that answers your question. 😀

[@pennyhannan2183]

Saw this after I used an Oxi product, which made the colors bleed. The rescued vintage handmade quilt seems very old & delicate, so I don't think I will put it thru another wash, I may spot clean with dishwasher agent & see if the old rust stains come out. Then, dry in the sun. Thank you!

[@AdorntheTable]

I'm sorry to hear about your vintage quilt. Yeah, I wouldn't put it through the washing machine again. Spot cleaning and soaking in a tub are good options. Minimize agitation. If you're trying to get out rust stains, I tried a few different methods and found that lemon juice and salt worked the best. Here's a link: adornthetable.com/how-to-get-rust-marks-out-of-fabric/. But I'd add a disclaimer that I don't know if the lemon juice would be too acidic on your vintage fabric and possibly damage it. Good luck!!

[@carrollhopp4588]

I have tablecloths and pillowcases with beautiful cutwork embroidery from the 1920-1940s. Hope I can the stains out. Thanks for your help.

[@AdorntheTable]

You are so welcome! Let me know how it turns out.

[@robbiewood3956]

I have a vintage tablecloth that has definite yellowing. There is no other colors on it, just all cream color. What do you think would work best? Thank you

[@AdorntheTable]

Because of the yellowing, I'm assuming it hasn't been used or laundered in years. I would suggest first just soaking it in very hot water for 24 hours. Then I'd drain the water and refill it with new very hot water and a little blue dawn dish soap. Let soak for another 24-48 hours. If most of the yellowing hasn't disappeared I'd then move to trying an OxyClean hot water bath. ~ Hope that helps. (It's always hard to provide advice without seeing the cloth.)

[@robbiewood3956]

@@AdorntheTable Thank you so much! I did not even think about posting a picture here. Because I’m a little bit of a computer dinosaur. I’m not sure even how to do that. Lol I cannot use dawn Blue as I am very allergic to it. I have to use fragrance free soaps. I will try the hot water and maybe just jump right to the oxyclean?

[@AdorntheTable]

@@robbiewood3956 Unfortunately I'm not familiar with fragrance free soaps, but you could substitute the dish soap you use in place of Dawn, or you could jump right to oxyclean if the hot water bath doesn't work. If the hot water bath appears to release some of the yellow, you could also do a 2nd hot water bath and let your cloth sit in it for another 24-48 hours. I've had lots of luck with plain baths, as the hot water helps hydrate the cloth and release any dirt or grime. Good luck!

[@robbiewood3956]

Thank you!!!

[@ginastipo492]

What about rust stains? Any ideas?

[@AdorntheTable]

I've found that a combination of salt and lemon juice worked. Here is a link to the experiment I did and the results: adornthetable.com/how-to-get-rust-marks-out-of-fabric/. *Disclaimer: if you are doing this on vintage or colored fabric the lemon juice might damage it, due to its acidity.

[@MaryDeanDotCom]

Seems like this would be a good way to pre-treat stains on ANY fabric. I don’t think I own a single white blouse that doesn’t have a coffee stain somewhere. I will try it.

[@AdorntheTable]

Great idea! Let me know how it works.

[@virginiahardy9213]

Wow,!

[@AdorntheTable]

I know!

[@wyominghome4857]

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

[@AdorntheTable]

I'm not familiar with that recipe. I hope you find it. Since you'd be using dry bleach, I'm assuming it would only work on white fabrics, and not with delicate pieces.

[@MH-pw3vy]

My grandmother squeezed lemon juice on stains and then laid the item out in the sun with a small pane of glass on top of it --she said to concentrate the effect and keep the item damp longer. I don't know, but it worked!

[@darmstrong2207]

If your concerned about bleeding, Biz works well but you have to put it full strength on the stain and work it in. Fels Naptha works wonders, use a soft tooth brush (I've also used my thumb nail) to work it into the stain. Then soak all night and give a good rinse. There has only been once or twice that I've had to retreat.

[@AdorntheTable]

Wonderful input ~ thank you! I haven't used Fels Naptha. Gonna need to try it!