A Free (And Chic!) New Way To Display Flowers
Make A Can Opener Work Like New Again
Keep table linens bright white by cleaning with water, vinegar and lemon juice. Photo: Flickr, Sifu Renka
If you have vintage cloth napkins and table linens, they're probably yellowed from years of oxidation or stained from prior use. But there are ways to give these pieces a new lease on life. Skip the washing machine and bleach and follow these directions for cleaning vintage table linens.
First, give your vintage napkins a good inspection to make sure they'll stand up to washing. If you're satisfied they will, you can start by gently handwashing them in a mixture of vinegar, water and lemon juice. A good combination is 2 cups of distilled white vinegar and one cup of lemon juice for every gallon of cool water. Soak them for a few hours to get the most from this mixture. For extra whitening, lay the table linens in the sun to dry.
If that doesn't work well enough, try handwashing again, this time with a store-bought powdered detergent. Allow linens to soak overnight for the toughest stains. After washing, rinse with cool water to make sure all the detergent is out of your vintage napkins. Never wring linens out like a washcloth; instead, press them with soft towels to soak up most of the moisture, then lay the linens flat to dry out. Even with commercial detergents, sunlight can help whiten further.
To store clean cloth napkins, first make sure they are completely dry. Then wrap your newly cleaned vintage table linens in acid-free paper to ensure their good condition for years to come.
