EBay, Collectors, Flea Market & Antiques

Both are experts in the type of linen you have. Colors back then pretty much were boil fast, which meant they didn't run. The only problems I've ever had or heard of is with the color red. You can also get a product called Shout Color Catcher, which can prevent color running.

Also linens back then were cleaned in boiling or hot water, not cold. BTW, even woolens were cleaned in boiling water.

There is only one caveat that I would add. Since you don't know what the fiber content is on the embroidery thread, I would be careful on the rinse cycle. I would make the rinse water about the same temperature as the water you take the linen out of, so if it is room temperature, make the rinse water room temperature. Put the water in the container and then add the linen to the water, don't run the water on top of the linen.

Personally, I'd rinse the linen twice to make sure that all the soap would be out of it.


Laundry back in the day, was much different than it is today. You would put on water to boil and fill your sink with wash board or your wringer washer machine and start your wash day. Whites were always put in the boiling water with soap, you had a stick or actually a sawed off broom handle and you stirred your wash and let it soak, while you sort your clothes and pre treat the dirtiest. Then you go back to your whites and stir again, and take them out to cool enough so you can handle them. When they were cool enough, you checked to see if they were clean and if needed take them to the wash board to scrub, otherwise you rinse in hot water, wring and hang out to dry. You then took your next 'cleanest' clothes and put in the water, add soap if needed and wash. By this time the water should be 'cool' enough not to burn your hands off and you would agitate the clothes through the water checking for cleanliness and using the washboard as needed. Rinse and repeat. Your last batch for the day would be the dirtiest clothes, and you go through the same steps. Now, if you had really, really dirty clothes, they could get their own wash water, if necessary, but that was unusual.

You have to understand that not everyone had a washing machine, even in the 1950's. And clothes line drying was the normal way to dry clothes even in the winter time. You had fewer clothes to begin with, and it wasn't unusual for someone to wear the same clothes all week long. Linens would be washed once a year, with spring cleaning. Blankets would be washed once a year, also in the spring and be put away in the cedar chest until needed in the fall. The cotton blankets would be brought out for the summer.

Things were very different back then, so never assume that how you would handle something now, is how you would handle something then.

Z

PS You can try oxy in cold water with a mild detergent, you will have nothing to lose. But, if you are really concerned, take a pic and put it on a board where they discuss antique linens to get the best advise.