James Mitchell/zefa/Corbis
READ MORE ABOUT:
Okay, so the party's over, and you're left with a mess. One of the realities of using vintage linens at your stylish, eco-friendly bash is the clean-up. After all, the whole idea is to re-use the linens, not to toss them out due to stubborn stains.
Knowing how to get stains out is key to conserving not just your linens, but your whole wardrobe. A dose of stain-removal expertise will give you more freedom at the thrift store, as well. You can take a chance on that two-dollar tablecloth if you're pretty sure you can get it clean.
Sometimes, these eco-laundry tips will work even when the item has been washed and dried (or even dry cleaned) and the stain is long set. Good luck!
TIPS
- Sunshine! A sunny day is the lazy launderer's best friend. As long as fading isn't going to be a problem, just put up an eco-friendly clothesline and let the sun do the work for you. During a recent trip to a remote spot on the Baja peninsula, I was able to get a red wine stain out of my favorite linen pants by rinsing them and hanging them to dry in sun for three days.
- Boiling Water. Acidic stains like wine and tomato can disappear when you pour boiling water over them.
- Cornstarch. This is said to work best on oil-based stains, particularly on silk and wool fabrics. Rub the starch on the dry stain and let it sit for a half an hour before rubbing the powder off with a dry cloth or soft brush. Repeat this a few times. For added effectiveness, you can try putting a paper towel above and below the treated spot and passing over it with a hot steam iron several times.
- Citrus Oil. Citrus Oils such as CitraSolve are natural solvents, but have the lowest toxicity level of all solvents. Citrus oil smells great and works as a pretreatment for stubborn stains, especially oil-based ones. Sometimes citrus oil will work even when other methods have already failed. You can try applying citrus oil directly on a spot and then use the paper towel/hot steam iron technique.
- Mild soap/shampoo. Protein-based stains (blood, sweat, and other body fluids) and tannin-based stains (coffee or tea) need to be rinsed under cold water with a mild soap or shampoo as soon as possible. I like to see if I can get the stain out completely with this method before laundering as usual.
- Papaya Enzyme. For adding to your wash, or spot treatment. Some companies market it in a spray form. You can find papaya enzyme at most natural food stores and co-ops.
This post was inspired by Emeril Green.
-
- {}
