How to Get Vintage Napkins White

Vintage napkins require gentle laundering.

Vintage textiles, unless stored in ideal conditions, tend to yellow with age. Even items packed away carefully in cardboard boxes and tissue paper will discolor over the years unless the packing materials are acid-free. Vintage linen and cotton napkins usually tolerate hand-washing well. However, washing vintage fabrics is inherently risky. Be exceedingly cautious with valuable, antique or treasured heirlooms. With inexpensive thrift-store finds, you can afford to try more effective and potentially damaging washing methods.

Things You'll Need

• Mild laundry soap
• Enzyme-based stain treatment
• Oxygen bleach
• Chlorine bleach

Instructions

1. Hand-wash the napkins in tepid water and mild soap designed for hand-laundering, for linens or for baby clothing. Rinse well and roll the items in a towel to remove excess water. Air dry them on a flat surface.

2. Soak the napkins in a water and mild soap mixture if a brief hand-washing isn't sufficient. Soak overnight or up to two to three days. Rinse them well, roll in a towel and air dry flat.

3. Hang the napkins in the sun if soaking doesn't do the trick. Set delicate fabrics in the shade or for brief periods.

4. Soak the napkins in water and an enzyme-based laundry booster or stain treatment if mild soap is ineffective. Follow the package instructions, rinse well and air dry flat. If an enzyme-based product doesn't work, try to soak the napkins in an oxygen-bleach solution.

5. Use chlorine bleach only as a last resort. It is effective but harsh and it may weaken fabrics or cause holes. It's worth a try on napkins that are useless if they can't be whitened. Use a tiny amount of bleach and a short soak time to minimize damage.

Tips & Warnings

• Consult a specialty dry cleaner if the napkins are valuable heirlooms or precious to you. Dry cleaners that belong to the Drycleaning and Laundry Institute have access to a textile testing laboratory and other resources for treating vintage fabrics.

• Chlorine bleach, oxygen bleach and sunlight may discolor modern white napkins manufactured with optical brighteners or resins.

• Do not wash napkins made from silk or other fabrics, which will not tolerate water. These items may require dry cleaning.

References

• University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service: Cleaning Heirloom Textiles
• West Virginia University Extension Service: Traditions Continue: The Care and Use of Heritage Textiles
• Touch of Europe: Care of Antique and Vintage Linens

Resources

• Drycleaning and Laundry Institute: Home