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Everyone probably has some old family linens laying around - maybe stashed away in a drawer or trunk. These might be an old quilt, crocheted table cloth, embroidered pillow slips, tea towels, or doilies. If these have been stored for any length of time, they may be dusty, soiled or in need of a good airing. However, before you start washing your antique linens there are some things to know. Never wash the following antique linens in the washing machine:
For items you can wash in the washer, do so using cold to warm water, gentle detergent and on the lingerie setting - with slow spin, i.e, non-decorated tablecloths, napkins. Most of the time antique linens will require hand washing in a large tub. Hand washing allows you to manipulate the fabric gently without exposing it to any twisting motions that could cause tears. If you find your item has spots, there are several ways to try and remove these.
Never use chlorine bleach to clean your antique linen; it is too harsh. It may cause yellowing or weakening of the fabric itself resulting in holes and tears. Once you've washed your linens, it is best to dry them flat. This prevents any sagging or tearing. If you have something large like a crochet tablecloth, bed coverlet or quilt, you may want to lay an old sheet on the grass with the quilt resting on top. This will allow the item to lay flat and dry. This is especially true for quilts because this eliminates any stress on the stitching or batting from hanging on a line. Note: Since most old quilts have cotton batting, washing one can be quite difficult when the cotton absorbs water. It is best to hand wash a quilt where you have easy, quick access to where you plan to dry the quilt. You do not want to carry a dripping quilt through your house. Quick Tip: If the items are small try rolling them in a dry bath towel, this will take out most of the water and cut the drying time significantly. Once dry, you may want to iron your linen. Depending on the item, you want to use either low temperature for laces or low-steam for damask or linen - being careful not to catch the tip of the iron in any of the stitches or design. Embroidered items should be ironed on the reverse side. Sometimes placing a tea towel between the item and the steam iron will help keep the embroidery stitches from flattening out. This is also true for helping to keep lace and crochet pieces flat. Note: It you have lace curtains you want crisp, before hanging them to dry, dip them in a solution of Epson's Salt and water (approx. 1/2 cup Epson's salt to 1 Gal water**). Dip the curtains in the solution, do not wring them, and then hang them up on a clothes line. The solution will be dripping from them. When dried, they will be crisp and ready to re-hang over the window. Storing your old linens can be accomplished by using a zippered garment bag or cedar chest to prevent damage. If you want to eliminate any fold or crease marks, try rolling your linens like a jelly-roll around a non-acid tube or length of clean fabric. This will keep the antique fabric from weakening along the fold lines and it will be ready to use - no wrinkles - when you unroll it.
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