Holly,
I recently did a bunch of research on cleaning historic textiles before
attempting to clean a similar kind of thing. I have a table centerpiece
made in the Philippines about 1900 that my mother (and probably her
mother) had stored for many years in a stained condition. Nobody living
had any idea what the stain was, but it looked as if it had been ironed
as well. The whole piece was dark ecru colored. It looks like linen,
but I believe it to be made of the fiber from pineapple leaves,
embroidered in white cotton with elaborate Chinese dragons.
The cotton was badly stained dark brown in several places. Anyway, my
research told me to soak it in Biz detergent! It has enzymes that seem
to do the trick without being hard on the fabric as bleach would be.
Museums use it.
I have since done this with several stained linen and cotton pieces that
I have bought second hand. Occasionally, I've soaked items for several
days, but the stains often completely come out. My Philippine piece is
now snow white, not ecru after all, with white cotton embroidery. You
really have to look closely to see where the stains were. I plan on
framing it for the wall, it looks so great!
Lynn C
Seattle
I'm wondering if bleach will work, or if something else will be
better. They're 100% cotton, I think both are size 10 bedspread
cotton of decent brands.
Thanks,
Holly
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