510 Laundry: A Care Guide
“Always remember, never starch your linens before storing them away!”
These words of wisdom were given to me many years ago by a lovely elderly retired Domestic Science teacher - starch made from natural ingredients would, apparently, cause linens to eventually rot away when stored. I was the mother of four boys under five at the time and starching my linens was not on my to do list!
Even now I like to keep things as simple as possible so this short guide is what I have found works well for me when caring for vintage linens - there will be many other methods out there.
Vintage linens have already stood the test of time - cotton or linen table cloths and napkins that were sent away to be laundered for example would have been washed and ironed at high temperatures and some items may now be fragile. Any repairs needed should be done before laundering to avoid further damage and a gentler approach to washing items is now recommended.
If an item is not in a very fragile state I use a gentle non biological laundry liquid such as Fairy or Persil in the washing machine on a cold or warm, delicate setting with a short, slow spin cycle. Hang to dry carefully avoiding any distorting of the fabric. Damaged or fragile linens should be hand washed in a gentle soap solution, rinsed carefully and rolled in a towel to remove excess water before drying flat. Always avoid drying in full sunlight as this will cause fading.
If there are any stains, they should be dealt with as quickly as possible. I carefully put a small amount of the laundry liquid on to the stain and gently rub being very careful not to be too enthusiastic - the fibres can easily be damaged - before washing as before. There are many stain remover sprays and powders on the market but I only use these if all else fails and bleach should only be used as a last resort if the item is really unusable as bleach can rot the fabric and damage any coloured threads.
If a piece has strong colours in the threads or appliqué we would recommend using a dye catcher to prevent colour bleed.
Vintage embroidery threads will fade with using and washing but this is all part of their history and charm as are small darns and patches - these items have been loved and enjoyed.
I find that when ironing cottons and linens the best results come from ironing them while damp - if this is not possible then a steam iron will help. Use a hot setting and , if like me, you don’t really enjoy ironing every day items I’m sure you’ll enjoy handling and ironing vintage linens because the fabrics are so beautiful and the results are worth it! I always iron embroidery on linens from the reverse side as this makes the patterns stand out a more and avoids damaging the stitches. Make sure your items are completely dry before putting away - if possible, it’s good to air them for a while.
Try not to store your linens in plastic bags -much better to use a natural, cotton bag such as the ones now available from 510_laundry.
So, enjoy caring for and using your linens - you’re carrying on their story!
