One of the things I hear a lot of at the store goes something like this: "I love linen table cloths but my friends get a little carried away with the red wine and well, you know . . ." Being the celebratory time of year that it is I though that now might be a good time for a post on tips to keep your linen in good shape without resorting to white wine only dinner parties.
It certainly is heartbreaking to find that your best linens have been permanently stained but don't fret. Heartbreak can be avoided with a little extra effort at the end of the evening a keeping a few easy supplies around. This biggest mistake we make when dealing with soiled linens is leaving the clean up for later. I know that it's a bit of a pain to have to deal with stain removal at the end of a fabulous party when you'd really rather sit back and put your feet up for a few minutes, but if you take care of your table linens right away you'll save yourself a lot of work later on.
The most common culprit in the ruination of tablecloths is red wine but the up side is that if you can treat it immediately it will come out very easily. For tiny little drops don't sweat it, you can rub a little salt on them and soak the cloth overnight in cold water before it goes in the washer the next day. For larger spills however, you best bet is to have a clean cotton terry towel and a can or two of club soda handy. Lift the cloth up from the table and place your towel underneath then pour the soda over the wine until it's removed. It will be a little awkward with your guests around the table but it can wait until the course is cleared and it really can save the cloth.
Other common stains are covered in the list below. A few things to keep in mind is that you'll generally want to err on the side of caution in order to avoid damaging the cloth. So where the list says "rub" go gently, you don't want to scrub the fabric. Additionally keep in mind that the following tips are generally geared for white or natural colour linens and using substances like peroxide, bleaching agents and borax on bright or dark colours is not always a good idea. Borax can be found in the laundry care isle of your grocery store.
In general I recommend washing your table linens in a luke warm wash with cold rinse then hanging to dry. If you are going to press your linens the job will be easier if you do your ironing while the cloth is still damp.
BERRIES AND FRUIT: If the stain is still wet, sprinkle with salt and gentle liquid soap. Let sit for a couple of hours, and rinse well. If the stain is dry, a solution of borax (one part borax to six parts water) may remove the stain. Soak until it has disappeared.
BLOOD: Attend to bloodstains immediately. Rinse well in cold water (never hot—it will permanently set the stain), then try one of the following: a) sprinkle the stain with unflavored meat tenderizer; or b) blot on hydrogen peroxide with a damp cloth, allow to bubble, then wipe with a fresh cloth. Repeat if necessary. For dried bloodstain: soak overnight in cold water and two cups of salt. Wash as usual.
BUTTER OR MARGARINE: Mix one teaspoon of detergent with warm water. Apply to spot and blot. You may need to repeat a few times. Or mix one part white vinegar and two parts water. Saturate the stain and blot until dry. Wash as usual. You can also try the method for old or set grease stains as listed below.
CANDLE WAX ON TABLE LINENS: Gently peel away the wax that can easily be removed with your fingernail. If the wax is soft, harden with an ice cube. Place the item between two sheets of brown paper, and press with a warm iron; the remaining wax will be absorbed by the paper. If the wax is colored, spot clean with a very mild, diluted, bleaching agent. If grease residue remains follow the directions for set grease stains as below.
COFFEE OR TEA: Apply a borax solution (1 part borax to six parts water) directly to the stain, then wash in warm, soapy water.
GREASE: Do not allow grease stains to set! Sprinkle fresh grease stains with baking soda or cornstarch and leave for a couple of hours until the powder gets thick. Scrape away and repeat the process. Brush off the powder and launder as usual. For old or set stains spot clean with a mild, clear dish washing liquid then launder normally. If the stain remains try the following: using baking soda/cornstarch and an iron. You'll sprinkle the stain with cornstarch and press it between two clean lint free cloths (linen for preference but cotton is o.k. too) with an iron set at the highest heat but with no steam.
GRASS (on tablecloths): Mix one-third cup vinegar and two-thirds cup water. Apply to stain and blot. Or pre-soak in hydrogen peroxide and launder as usual.
LIPSTICK: Scrape off as much as you can with a dull knife. Use a pre-wash spray or mild liquid dish liquid and rub with a clean white towel. Wash as usual. You can also use the grease treatment if a colourless spot remains after the first treatment.
MILDEW: Apply white vinegar and lemon juice to kill the mildew. Let the item sit in the sun for a few hours. Wash as usual, but separately.
SCORCH MARKS: Treat the same way as mildew, but drying in the sun is not necessary.
WINE: White wine is easily removed with normal laundering. Red wine stains can be handled two ways: a) rub salt on the stain, and soak in cold water or b) saturate the stain with club soda until it disappears. I recommend the second way while the stain is still wet and on the table. Use a cotton terry underneath the stain to absorb the soda and the wine.
But really try not to worry too much about your linens, they are intended to be beautiful and useful, to help make your home the lovely place it is. If you can't get a stain out there is a pretty good chance that a professional cleaner can and if even that fails there are always table runners and placemats to camouflage the problems.
Have a great holiday and a Happy New Year!
