How many of us are willing to spread out those beautiful vintage tablecloths to use for special occasions?

Vintage tablecloths are beautiful accents to your holiday decor. How do we display these beautiful pieces and avoid damage to them? Is it worth the risk of using them, during a time when family and friends are celebrating together the joyous season of the holidays and other special occasions?
Here are a few tips for cleaning and maintaining the beauty of your vintage tablecloths.
First off, vintage tablecloths are going to probably require some extra care when using. Vintage tablecloths cleaning is not like cleaning new textiles. You may want to hand wash all your vintage tablecloths to avoid damages to the fibers. Too much cleaning of these delicate linens, can cause damage and wear on the material.

Oxygen Bleaches
These bleaches can be used for cleaning some tablecloths but not all. The rayon, and metallic threads and dyes can not be safely cleaned with oxygen bleaches. Be very careful when using oxygen bleaches as this can fade your cloth and cause color runs. If your tablecloth can not be cleaned with oxygen bleaches, you can try a mild Biz soak.
When you are cleaning your tablecloth, check frequently when soaking or during cleaning to ensure that the colors are not fading, the fabric hasn’t become damaged or disintegrate. To safely wash out stains, take a tip from Martha Stewart. She recommends lining a basin with a clean sheet before you fill it with soap. Put those pieces that are fragile into the basin in order to soak. It is best to lift the tablecloth from the basin by its corners to avoid stretching fragile linens when you are through. Never knead, push, or twist your vintage tablecloths. They may be fragile and rough handling is the quickest way to ruin them.

Make sure all the cleaning solutions are rinsed thoroughly to avoid breakdown from the chemicals of the cleaning agents. Once rinsed there are a number of ways to dry. One of the best drying solutions I have used is laying your tablecloth outside in the sun on the grass. The chlorophyll in the grass creates a natural oxygen bleach.

Letting your vintage tablecloths dry on a clothesline if it’s not too breezy is a great way to let nature assist you in the drying process. This will give them a fresh, clean scent too. Don’t stretch the tablecloth on the line; use several clothespins to hang your precious linens. If you don’t feel comfortable hanging it on a line, you can lay it on a sheet to dry in the sun. This a great way to lighten any yellow stains in the fabric.

Alana Morgaine

Our Vintage Tablecloths

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