How to Wash Vintage Linens

expert tips for getting stains out of old linens

There is just something special about opening a drawer and seeing it filled with brightly colored vintage linens! Whether it’s crocheted potholders, vat-dyed colorful tablecloths, or embroidered dresser scarves and samplers, modern-day textiles just don’t compare! The detailing, the colors, and the patterns just put a smile on my face whenever I use them around my home or repurpose them into something different. Today I’ll share How to Wash Vintage Linens the way I have been for years.

Vintage linens can be found fairly inexpensively at church sales and estate sales. {“Church Sales 101”, “Estate Sales 101 and Insider Tips”} Often, they’re less than clean and need some TLC before you can pop them in your drawers.

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Sometimes it’s just general grunge, other times there are stains. The linen washing formula I’ve used for years will give them a zap of energy to be brought back to life. There are many different ways of washing vintage linens. This formula is simply what I’ve been using for years and uses everyday, common ingredients. Bleach is involved, so it’s not mild by any means, but it certainly does the trick.

I also want to encourage you to try it on vintage linens that you don’t value highly first. I’ve got hoards of linens I’ve gotten for next to nothing. They’re not family memories and not even antique (100+ yrs. old). They’re simply the everyday linens that housewives made or bought for their homes. They’re plentiful, and I don’t take them too seriously! I just want them fairly clean so I can enjoy them everyday, like they did!

How to Wash Vintage Linens

I made a handy, dandy recipe card for you with all these instructions! It is available to download and print in my Lora B. Insider’s Resource Library. If you’d like access to it, I’ll let you know how below;)

Start With 2 Plastic Containers

Have 2 plastic containers ready. I like to use the tote-type because it’s more shallow than a bucket. They’re also usually clear, so you can see the linens as they’re soaking to make sure the colors aren’t fading.

Fill the first container with the ingredients and dissolve in hot water:

Soak Linens in Magic Formula

Add your linens and stir. Soak for up to 30 minutes. If any of the colors begin to come out, get them out fast! I’ve only had this happen a couple times. I stay close by during this process, just in case. Then again, sometimes I kind of like what’s happened; it’s all personal taste;)

Stir solution and linens sporadically, so no pieces of fabric are above the water line for too long. This will help to evenly treat the fabric.

Rinse the Vintage Linens Carefully

Fill your other plastic container with cool-cold water for rinsing.

When your linens look clean and fresh (probably within 30 minutes), take them out and squeeze gently. You can use gloves if you don’t want your hands in the strong solution. Place your washed linens in the cool/cold rinse water bath.

Agitate the linens to release the soap. Drain the water and rinse again several times ( at least 3x). When it seems the soap is out, add a little vinegar (1/4 cup) to the final rinse water.

Roll in Towel to Release Moisture

One by one, squeeze the linens out gently and roll into a terrycloth towel.

Lay Flat or Hang to Dry

Squeeze the roll and let sit a bit, so the towel sucks most of the moisture out of the linens. Lay them flat to dry if smaller, hang larger items like tablecloths.

Iron and Enjoy!

Hopefully your vintage linens came out clean and sparkling fresh. I can’t say every spot will come out this way, but it does indeed brighten everything. Sometimes with stubborn items, I will give them another treatment. When the solution is really hot and strong at the beginning is when it’s the most powerful.

The vintage linens I don’t use this strong formula on: old quilts, delicate lace, thinner-fiber pieces, family heritage special pieces. I use a more mild cleaning formula for those items to be safer, like a color safe bleach.

If you’d like to get a free printable/downloadable copy of my vintage linens washing formula, simply become a Lora B Insider, below. You’ll get access to this recipe, plus tons of other useful tips and seasonal printables. You’ll also get my weekly email, full of creative inspiration!

If you’re already a Lora B. Insider, check your weekly email for the Resource Library password, so you can get your Vintage Linens Washing Recipe.

If you liked this post, you may also like:

“How to Easily Fix an Old Patchwork Quilt”

“Vintage Ticking Pillows: Collecting and Caring For”

“Vintage Napkin Runner”

If you love the beauty and charm of vintage linens as much as I do, I hope this information will encourage you to not overlook the sometimes cheaper, dirty linens at the next sale. It’s kind of a challenge to see what you can bring back to life with this magic formula;) I know I’m dreaming of how I can use these brighter, happier pieces around my house! How to Wash Vintage Linens may increase your linen hoard…just a warning;)

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