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 cleaning antique linens (2003)
Author: JanSew 
Date:   12-13-03 11:55

Does anyone remember the formula listed in Martha's newsletter for cleaning antique linens. I think it used Biz and something else but I accidentely deleted it.
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 Re: cleaning antique linens
Author: GMG 
Date:   12-13-03 18:49

I can remember either but if you go to the newletter on the home page it lets you go to the previous week and so on and so. I have looked back about six weeks for something I forgot. Hope this helps.

Gillie
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 Re: cleaning antique linens
Author: mizlilly 
Date:   12-13-03 23:05

I think it was Oxyclean, but I'm not sure. Just checked my email on this computer, that newsletter isn't here. (I never delete anything!) Will look on my other computer and see if I can find it. Last possibility is work computer, and don't know when I'll be back there, but I'll try to have someone else find it for us. Just remember, some of these cleaners are not recommended for some fabrics, like perhaps silk and/or wool, so be sure to read the labels. Your linens are probably cotton and/or linen, so they should be fine.
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 Re: cleaning antique linens
Author: cht 
Date:   12-14-03 21:39

Hi,
Orvus soap. I can recommend the book "The Laundy Room by Sandy Hunter" . An excellent reference book.
Wendy
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 Re: cleaning antique linens
Author: cht 
Date:   12-14-03 21:44

Hi,
Also just found this on www.connectingthreads.com a free download for caring for Quilts.
Wendy
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 Re: cleaning antique linens
Author: Granny 
Date:   12-21-03 19:20

I think the formula was a scoop of Biz in a plastic bucket of cold water. I have used the "biz-bucket" method lots of times and it whitens those vintage linens. I have done a quart sized container for small things or lace. Martha told a story about the suitcase of clothes that they take to schools being left out on a runsay in rainy weather. About a week later when the suitcase was opened everything was black. She put everything in a bathtub of cold water and an entire box of Biz and let it soak for days and the clothes came out nice and white.

Mary
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 Re: cleaning antique linens
Author: Fairy Godmother 
Date:   12-30-03 18:19

While we're talking about cleaning antique linens, I'd like to poll the group to see if anyone's ever heard of this method: a friend of mine works estate sales, and cleans all of the linens using her grandmother's method. Immersing the linens in straight, undiluted white vinegar, she slowly adds straight Clorox (you read correctly!!) until there is a chemical reaction and everything suddenly turns white and the stains are gone. She then starts running cold water into the tub and rinses everything clean. Then, she washes, irons and starches as usual.

I told her I'd be concerned about damaging the fabric, and she said that in all of these years, she's only lost one piece. And, she has everything come out sparkling clean. It sounds scary to me, but are there any chemists out there who can speak to this system? Or has anyone ever heard of this?

Regards,
The Fairy Godmother
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 Re: cleaning antique linens
Author: Mardella 
Date:   12-31-03 13:49

I would be concerned about releasing chlorine gas. Can anyone shed light on this?
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 Re: cleaning antique linens
Author: Laurel 
Date:   01-03-04 02:16

Chlorine weakens the fibers over time. A dealer's goal is to whiten the things and sell them for top $. A collector/user wants the linens to last. I use Biz and very hot water. In the old days, linens were boiled in a kettle over a fire. IMO, hot water is less damaging than chemicals. Another thing to avoid is agitator washers, which can be very damaging to lace and other hand work. I use bleach, but only when everything else has failed.
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 Re: cleaning antique linens
Author: Fairy Godmother 
Date:   01-03-04 06:50

Dear Laurel,

I agree. I could hardly believe that she had only lost one piece in all these years. I guess I have kind of a morbid fascination and curiosity with it! I asked her if she wore a mask when working with these chemicals... It's her description of pouring the straight bleach into the vinegar solution until everything turns white that fascinates me. I've never heard of it.

I'm a Biz (really Tri-Zyme, but same type of stuff--) bucket & hot water person myself. I even use vinegar for all sorts of cleaning projects, but I don't think I'll be pouring straight bleach onto antique linens anytime soon.

Regards,
The Fairy Godmother
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 Re: cleaning antique linens
Author: Granny 
Date:   01-03-04 10:49

Chlorine gas is very toxic and is damaging to the respiratory membranes. Please don't mix chlorine containing products with anything else.

Mary
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 Re: cleaning antique linens
Author: Cindy B 
Date:   01-07-04 22:56

Janice

This may be what you are looking for. It is from the September 29 letter-

CLEANING ANTIQUE WHITE LINENS TIP FROM LIZ WHITE FROM WEST PALM BEACH, FL

I went to a monthly antique show that we have here in West Palm Beach one Sunday and came upon a booth of Antique Linens. There were hundreds upon hundreds or pieces but on closer examination they all looked brand new! I had to ask if they were in fact antique and I was surprised when she said "Yes." I asked her the secret and she told me that she uses one scoop of Biz and one scoop of OxyClean in a bucket of water. You can leave the dingiest item in this mixture for 24 hours and it will come out bright white! It's never failed me.

Cindy
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 Re: cleaning antique linens
Author: Susan B. 
Date:   03-27-04 12:11

I can't thank you enough for this tip. I came upon my great (well many greats) grandmother's wedding truseau full of her handmade lace nightgowns, nightcaps and some lace aprons from the early 1800s. I was so excited to know they existed but when I opened the "box" they were stored in I was crushed to find they were very badly stained and I thought ruined. I went on the internet and found this site with this "miracle" solution and in desperation I tried it. Much to my disbelief it worked wonders and I now have beautiful heirlooms I can pass down to my daughter. Thank you so much!!!

Susan
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 Re: cleaning antique linens
Author: Cindy B 
Date:   03-27-04 18:07

Oh, what a treasure you found, Susan! Wish I could find something like that. I do have a black velvet bonnet that goes back several greats. I'm glad it worked for you. Sounds like you're new to this board and I hope you'll visit often. We have some wonderful people who post on here. They are all very kind and want to help anyone, any time.
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 Re: cleaning antique linens
Author: AMM 
Date:   03-28-04 17:24

DO NOT MIX anything with Bleach!!!. I am not a chemist so I do not know about vinegar but many chemicals can cleave the Cl- molecule from bleach and it is released as Chlorine gas. This can be fatal. Our neighbor was found dead in the driveway cleaning his boat with clorox and a mix of other cleaners. My Mother-in-law(not the sharpest tool in the shed), despite knowing better and being advised against it by her son and myself (both with medical degrees) used Clorox and 409 together. She claimed nothing else would remove mildew ( she never was one for elbow grease). She now has lung damage and is on oxygen following a final cleaning episode.
I have seen Nancy's vintage soak work wonders. You just need to be patient with it.
I hate to preach but Bleach can be scary!

Anne Michelle Miller

Licensed Martha Pullen Viking Heirloom Instructor
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 Re: cleaning antique linens
Author: Shirley Schooley 
Date:   03-28-04 18:19

I would reinforce the ideas about bleach. Be very careful or you can ruin more than the fabric you're concerned about (the warning also applies to mixing bleach with liquid dishwashing detergent.)
I use Nancy's Vintage Soak and have found it so good that I now carry it in my space in the antique store (and also on my web site http://www.simplywonderfulthings.com) I use it on all the vintage linens I buy at estate sales, etc.

You do need to be patient. See my "caring for fine fabrics" page on the web site). I only use Biz or OxyClean when nothing seems to help and the item is interesting but not particularly valuable.)

(Incidentally, as I write this (Sunday, March 28), my web site is down due to some problem with the web hosting service. I'm praying it's up soon--frustrating that I can do nothing about it--so try again in a day or so if you get an error message.)

Shirley Schooley
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 Re: cleaning antique linens
Author: Shirley Schooley 
Date:   03-29-04 07:49

My Simply Wonderful Things web site is up! You are welcome to print out the information about cleaning fabrics. This information represents a composite of the best information I have collected over the years and quite a lot of practical experience.
http://www.simplywonderfulthings.com

Shirley Schooley
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 Re: cleaning antique linens
Author: miss lee 
Date:   04-02-04 16:24

I remember a few years ago, (the last time i actually read a Clorox label) that the dirrections said never to leave anything soak in Clorox longer than 5 to 10 minutes. At that time, the action of the bleach on the fabric starts letting the dirt in the water get into the fibers, thus defeating the purpose.

I used Biz on a Christening dress that had been stored in a shirt box for 30 years. and the yellow came out with one soaking.

Linda S
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 Re: cleaning antique linens
Author: Keila 
Date:   06-14-04 12:06

I thank you all for sharing this tip of biz and oxyclean! Before I begin, I would like to know if using cold water or hot is the best. I have lots of old linens and hankies that need to be cleaned...I'm all ready to get started now that I hunted down biz-was hard to find!

Have a great day,

Keilamarie
Keila's Calling
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 Re: cleaning antique linens
Author: mizlilly 
Date:   06-14-04 12:25

I don't get Biz here in Canada; we have Amaze, which I think is the same. It doesn't dissolve well in cold water. So even if I'm going to be soaking in cold, I first dissolve it in a small amount of very hot water. I do use the hottest water that is safe for the fabric though. For new cotton and linen I'd use hot, but for antique linens I'd try warm first.
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 Re: cleaning antique linens
Author: Keila 
Date:   06-14-04 16:09

Hello,

Sorry, one more question please...

I have been soaking my linens for a few hours and already the water has turned color-gross, ha ha. Anyway, am I supposed to be changing the water and, if yes, how often? The colors are fine the water looks dirty..blah

Thank you so much-I can not believe how good it works, almost motivates me to clean everything all over again in this stuff!

Have a great day,

Keilamarie
Keila's Calling
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 Re: cleaning antique linens
Author: lib 
Date:   06-22-04 08:39

Doesn't the vinegar neutralize the clorox? Several years ago did a project which called for using freezer paper stencils - made our own - ironed onto colored denim, misted with fine clorox spray, left for brief time and then soaked in vinegar to neutralize the clorox, which worked, then washed. The vinegar did seem to stop the action of the clorox, as well as making fumes - did this outside, and didn't lean too closely over it.

Biz got the brown stain out of some organdy which had been stored in a drawer for don't know how many years - it was white organdy with red cherries embroidered on it, and the organdy came out nice and white with no change in the red color of the cherries, except they were brighter from being cleaned.
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 Re: cleaning antique linens
Author: Cheryl Patrou 
Date:   10-27-04 17:50

I tried your recipe of 1 scoop Biz, 1 scoop Oxy-Clean, in water, to whiten a couple old cotton tablecloths. The water turned very yellow. I let them soak for hours, then rinsed them. They stayed yellow. I washed and rinsed, and kept hand-rinsing, still yellow! I had read that vinegar will whiten fabric, so, I added a couple gulps of brown vinegar (I know they say white vinegar, but I didn't have any on hand). Anyway, the tablecloths instantly turned white!! I can't believe how bright and colorful these tableclothes are again.
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 Re: cleaning antique linens
Author: jem 
Date:   10-29-04 16:02

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, BE VERY CAREFUL WITH WHAT YOU MIX WITH BLEACH. MY MOTHER TRIED TO CLEAN A STAIN IN THE BATH TUB MIXING SOMETHING WITH BLEACH. WE WERE LUCKY MY AUNT CAME BY. SHE WAS ABLE TO DRAG MY MOTHER OUT OF THE HOUSE AND CALL AN AMBULANCE. MY MOTHER SPENT SEVERAL DAYS ON OXEGEN. THE DRS SAID SHE HAD MIXED A FORM OF CLORINE GAS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. tHIS WAS WITH SIMPLE HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS.
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 Re: cleaning antique linens
Author: MM 
Date:   10-30-04 09:07

I used Biz on my daughters 15 yr old white dotted swiss 1st communion dress. she had wiped her ketchupy hands on the skirt and nothing would get this stain out.. A couple of weeks ago I bought Biz for the 1st time and let the dress soak in it overnight. The dress looks beautiful again..

I also bought some vintage lace on ebay. Most of the stains came out but I have a few that are being real stubborn.. I'm going to try Oxyclean next on them...


Would never use bleach on anything but soaks and undies LOL..

M

Have a nice day
MM
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