The thing about table linens is that they are meant to be used and when they are in use, they come into contact with all kinds of lovely gooey things and things that leave stains.
I know a hostess who will only allow white wine to be served at her parties, in the hopes of avoiding red stains on her table linens and white carpets.
Of course, white wine leaves stains too! They just aren’t immediately visible. Put away a tablecloth that has invisible, untreated stains and the stains will gradually turn yellow.
Next time (probably a year from now), that you take that tablecloth out to use, you will get an unpleasant surprise.
So- it’s the day after Thanksgiving. It was a delicious dinner and everybody was very full and happy and thank goodness you don’t have to go back to work for a few days and can just relax.
“I’ll drop the tablecloth off at the laundry sometime next week”, you think, still in your turkey induced stupor. “I hope the laundry can get out those gravy stains.”
A better idea is to grab that tablecloth, rub the stains with some Linen Wash and let it soak in a bucket of cold water for a day or two. The longer stains set, the harder they are to get out and a commercial laundry will use all kinds of nasty fabric eating chemicals in an attempt to turn your heirloom tablecloth white again.
After you’ve soaked the cloth and napkins and changed the water until it runs clear, run the linens through the delicate cycle on your washing machine with some more Linen Wash. Tumble dry at low heat and take to the laundry (when you get around to it) only to be pressed. Make a note to yourself to pick up your linens by the end of January. That way, you’ll be all set for the next holiday.
A testimonial: Linen Wash really works. I collect vintage linens and some of them are in pretty sad shape when found at a thrift store or garage sale. Linen Wash has worked wonders on many of my treasures, though there is one set of 100 year old finger bowl doilies that NOTHING worked on. After two applications of Linen Wash and two rounds of a paste made from lemon juice and baking soda (a mild, natural bleaching agent), I gave up. The mysterious brown stains did not come out. If only they had been treated with Linen Wash when the accident first happened!
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