Some older stains require dry cleaning to be removed. Dry cleaning can ruin linens so it’s imperative that you try and treat stains quickly so that you don’t have to resort to harsher methods to remove the stain.
Do not squeeze or press the linen or stain. Doing so may grind the stain substance into the fibers of the linen and make it harder to get out. You can gently shake off residual liquids like wine or juice instead of wringing them out.
Sprinkle baking soda on the stain and add a few drops at a time of vinegar. Blot the stain with a paper towel to soak up the moisture. Lemon juice will help whiten any dingy materials. Squeeze some juice onto a stain or discolored linen item and let it sit until you see it begin to lighten, and then rinse it out. You can also buy a stain treatment to apply to the stain like Tide or Oxyclean. Don’t even rub a stain. Rubbing and applying too much pressure will help a stain to set into the linen rather than get it out.
An example stain removing recipe is as follows: 1 scoop of Oxyclean, 1 cup of Biz, ¾ cup of ammonia, and a gallon of hot water. [5] X Research source White vinegar will help to cut grease as well. Use an ⅛ to a ½ cup based on how big your load of laundry is. [6] X Research source A mild dish detergent will work well too. Use a quarter to a full cup of detergent depending on how much you’re washing. [7] X Research source
Fill up a bathtub or sink with cool water for soaking. Hot water needs an added cleanser to prevent stains from setting. Every once in a while, check on the stain to see if it is being absorbed into the water. To test the stain, lightly rub the material between your fingers to see if it’s coming out. Be gentle so that you don’t rub the stain into the fabric.
You can put the linens out completely dry, or you can lightly mist them with a spray bottle filled with water, non-chlorine bleach, or any other liquid stain remover. [9] X Research source Do not soak the fabric if you’re leaving it in the sun. It may create an unpleasant odor. Vintage fabrics may become damaged from direct sunlight so use caution when deciding whether or not to put antiques in sunlight.
Ironing a stain is a perfect way to seal the stain into the fibers. Check your whole garment or fabric to make sure that there are no other hidden stains.
Be careful on bright, sunny days because the sun could lighten your linen items very quickly. Set a timer to check on the progress so that you don’t end up with splotchy fabric. For difficult stains, repeat this process several times. Wash the fabric in between repetitions. For large stains or dingy white tablecloths for example, combine lemon juice and dissolved salt in a spray bottle and lightly spray the whole thing. Let it sit in the sun laid out flat so that the effect is uniform.
Don’t coat the stain in too much cornstarch. You only need a small coating to absorb the stain. You can reapply another coat after the first one if the stain persists. If you need to rinse the cornstarch out, use cool water to keep the stain from sticking around.
