I need some help...

[santoria]

My Dad cleared out my Grandparents house last week and brought home a ton of old and antique linens. They desparately need to be cleaned. There is lots of linen, some cotton and most have fancy embroidery or tatting.

What is the best way to get these cleaned?

They are beautiful and we all want to use them. if only for a decoration.

[SewCrafty]

I'm not an expert on this by any means, but I would handwash with Woolite, rinse, roll in a towel to get out the excess water and hang to dry. I think the agitator in most washers might damage old linens.

Maybe the other ladies have some better ideas. I hope you can save and show your percious memories of Grandma.

[santoria]

I hoipe so too. I have never ever seen most of this stuff. Neither has my dad.

there are 4 sets of silver as well (my cousins didnt want it - too much work they said!).

2 sets of china and a TON of crystal.

Mom and I are researching the lineage of a lot of this stuff. There is a fortune sitting there on my parents dining room table, floor, shelves....

[kimmee]

I use baby shampoo and handwash as Dee said - However if it is really dirty I put it through the washer on gentle with some 20 Mule team (Borax) and baking soda.

[PrairieRose]

You can do a soak with part detergent and part dishwasher detergent in not hot (b/c they are delicate) but almost hot water. I'd soak it over nite in that with a little color safe bleach. Personally, I'd probably wash on the delicate cycle of the washing machine. Mine has one that only agitates very, very gently.

[lacyj]

You could put a few in a pillow case and tie it shut, then put in washing machine, use cool water, so stains won't set. Use a big rubber band or zip-tie to shut the pillow case.