[h-cost] re: Partly OT: Stains on table linen
My mother has had to go into a nursing home and I'm clearing her house. I've found numerous tablecloths and napkins, some quite old and interesting, a lot of which have food stains on. I've washed them with Vanish (if you don't have that in the US, it's a new oxygen-based stain remover) but it doesn't get everything out. I don't want to bleach antique or coloured items. Suggestions, anyone? Kate I collect, some whom I live with, would say amass vintage linens, quilts unmentionables. Mostly I use baby soap, or whatever you wash your favorite sweaters in. If really done in, a gentle bleaching detergent. Air dry. Repeat until happy. When you finally get it clean enough, hot press those beautiful crisp folds store them away. I would start with the gentlest treatment first on the most replaceable or hopeless item. See what happens. Work your way up to gentle, warm water the oxy cleaner. You will probably never get the foxing out (those rust colored stains). Foxing can be caused by contact with acidic stuff (like wood, common paper and food debris) among other things. No sure how old quite old is but if really, really old, then you might want to stop at the cold, clear water rinse or cold water gentlest soap so that colors dont run. Truly magnificent items should be taken to a professional. My spare mom gave me two heavily embroidered unused gigantic table cloths, buffet cloth each with 12 napkins each all with the original gift card as given to her mother. She said, My mother stored this for 40 years. I have stored it for 40 years. Now it's your turn. I havent dared use it, but if I do, it's to serve white wine, dry foods with brush-away crumbs, no grease and it goes to the pros afterwards. grin To prevent or postpone future foxing, line your linen storage in buffered papers. I just use an old cotton sheet as the bottom layer in my cedar closet. Some items are truly hopelessly stained, moth eaten or torn and I'm not above recycling them into something else like a supportasse collar or petticoat. I have one of each made from a previous pillow case table linen respectively. --cin Cynthia Barnes [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost] re: Partly OT: Stains on table linen
I just ran down to the basement to copy the label for this product-- I've had good luck with it but have used it on only two pieces, so I can't say I've done exhaustive testing! It's called RESTORATION, and it claims Revives color and freshness to antique linens...removes most stains. Manufactured by Engleside Products of Lancaster, PA. No acids, chlorine, or phosphates. Safe for all fabrics and colors. Environmentally safe. I followed the directions on the label and was pleased with the results. --Ruth Anne Baumgartner scholar gypsy and amateur costumer -Original Message- From: Cin [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Mar 2, 2006 2:19 PM To: h-cost [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [h-cost] re: Partly OT: Stains on table linen My mother has had to go into a nursing home and I'm clearing her house. I've found numerous tablecloths and napkins, some quite old and interesting, a lot of which have food stains on. I've washed them with Vanish (if you don't have that in the US, it's a new oxygen-based stain remover) but it doesn't get everything out. I don't want to bleach antique or coloured items. Suggestions, anyone? Kate I collect, some whom I live with, would say amass vintage linens, quilts unmentionables. Mostly I use baby soap, or whatever you wash your favorite sweaters in. If really done in, a gentle bleaching detergent. Air dry. Repeat until happy. When you finally get it clean enough, hot press those beautiful crisp folds store them away. I would start with the gentlest treatment first on the most replaceable or hopeless item. See what happens. Work your way up to gentle, warm water the oxy cleaner. You will probably never get the foxing out (those rust colored stains). Foxing can be caused by contact with acidic stuff (like wood, common paper and food debris) among other things. No sure how old quite old is but if really, really old, then you might want to stop at the cold, clear water rinse or cold water gentlest soap so that colors dont run. Truly magnificent items should be taken to a professional. My spare mom gave me two heavily embroidered unused gigantic table cloths, buffet cloth each with 12 napkins each all with the original gift card as given to her mother. She said, My mother stored this for 40 years. I have stored it for 40 years. Now it's your turn. I havent dared use it, but if I do, it's to serve white wine, dry foods with brush-away crumbs, no grease and it goes to the pros afterwards. grin To prevent or postpone future foxing, line your linen storage in buffered papers. I just use an old cotton sheet as the bottom layer in my cedar closet. Some items are truly hopelessly stained, moth eaten or torn and I'm not above recycling them into something else like a supportasse collar or petticoat. I have one of each made from a previous pillow case table linen respectively. --cin Cynthia Barnes [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost] re: Partly OT: Stains on table linen
In a message dated 3/2/2006 2:26:58 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I havent dared use it, but if I do, it's to serve white wine, dry foods with brush-away crumbs, no grease and it goes to the pros afterwards. grin I would stick to sparkling water--even white wine can stain! Ann Wass ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost] re: Partly OT: Stains on table linen
Cin wrote: To prevent or postpone future foxing, line your linen storage in buffered papers. I just use an old cotton sheet as the bottom layer in my cedar closet. I have two hopeless linen table cloths that I use to wrap the non-hopless ones in while storing them. liz young ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
