How to Remove Yellow Stains From a Cotton Table Cloth

Daily use of tablecloths can make them dirty and dingy.

Tablecloths can add elegance to your dining area. Unfortunately, they can also become dirty, dingy and stained. Food, candles and even dust can leave behind a yellow tint on tablecloths, particularly white ones. These stains can be difficult to remove but a few household items can help you address the stains and salvage your tablecloth. Hot water--which lifts stains--work well with cotton items because cotton--unlike some other fabrics--can handle high temperatures.

Things You'll Need

• Pre-treat stain product
• Washing machine
• Bleach
• Mild laundry detergent

Instructions

1. Apply a pre-treat stain product to the yellow stain. A pre-treat stain product can be purchased at your local department store in the laundry detergent aisle.

2. Allow the treatment to soak into the stain for at least 1/2 hour.

3. Set the washing machine to the gentle cycle on the hottest temperature allowed.

4. Add 1/4 cup of a mild laundry detergent and 1/2 cup of bleach to the washing machine.

5. Allow the washer to run about 30 seconds without the tablecloth in it to mix the bleach, detergent and water together.

6. Place the tablecloth in the washing machine and close the lid.

7. Hang the table cloth in a sunny location and allow to air dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Alternatively, add the bleach and laundry detergent to a sink full of hot water and hand wash the tablecloth.

References

• Preserving Collectibles: Removing The Yellow Stains From Vintage Tableclothes
• Ohio State University Extension: Quick 'n Easy Stain Removal
• Heloise: Heloise Hints