Tips for Removing Stains in Tablecloths
Tablecloths can take a beating, especially those that are used day in and day out. But even holiday tablecloths can be ruined in a moment with the spill of a glass of red wine. Don’t let a simple accident ruin a family heirloom or beloved tablecloth.
To keep your tablecloths lasting as long as possible, we have some great tips for removing stains on tablecloths. There are many different products that can be used to help remove stains, our tips use general household ingredients, no fancy products. Before washing, be sure to remove any excess liquid or food from the tablecloth. Then clean it by hand with a mild detergent to see if the stain can be removed. Let it air dry, do not dry it in an electric dryer, as it will allow the stain to set in. If the hand wash showed some progress, you can repeat the process to hope for further results.
The second step if the stain is still visible after two hand washings, is to soak the stained section in bowl of white vinegar. The white vinegar bath would consist of 1 tablespoon of vinegar for every quart of warm water. Soak it for one hour, but check the stain every 10 minutes to prevent damaging the tablecloth permanently.
If step one and two are still not effective, you can move on to more evasive measures. Use a similar mixture as step 2, but replace the vinegar with bleach. Use this mixture only on the area of the stain.
Then place it flat in the sun to assist the bleaching process. Check on the stain’s progress about every 15 minutes. The sun can discolor the other parts of the tablecloth, so be sure to keep a close eye on it.
These tips are especially helpful on antique tablecloths in which the stain may have already set in. If the last and final step does not completely remove the stain, and if is still pretty visible, you may want to find a way to reuse the tablecloth for other items in your home. Visit out blog next week for some easy and creative ways to reuse old or ruined tablecloths!
How do you get stains out of your tablecloths or other linens?