October 2016
Your Oxyclean suggestion for old linen worked like a charm for a family heirloom. I was skeptical, but the alternative was to toss the old hand tatted lace tablecloth. It came out brand new! Thank you.
– Josie
Josie, I’m so glad you emailed! It always makes me happy when old beauties—especially family treasures—are returned to circulation, and just in time for the holidays. I’m happy I could help.
Check out this beauty!
This looks to me like a banquet-size cloth with several matching napkins.
It would have been a shame to “toss it,” don’t you think?
I commend Josie for taking the time to research how to clean her family’s tablecloth—and then taking the time to do it! This beauty deserves to be enjoyed for generations to come. Nicely done, Josie!
But what if . . .
Josie’s family heirloom hadn’t come clean? What then?
Repurpose the good parts! This cloth is a lonnng way from “the point of no return”.
Especially with a cloth this size, there are lots of options for repurposing:
- woman’s skirt
- little girl’s dress
- pillow covers
- table runners
- stockings
- pouches
More repurposing ideas:
Life Cycle of a Damask Tablecloth
How do you know when it’s time to call it quits?
Click to see more readers’ letters
I’m givin’ away this heirloom,
it’s sittin’ over there,
’cause I don’t think that notime soon
I’ll be weavin’ any hair.
It’s been around for ages
but I’ve never seen it used.
The instruction manual’s pages
are in Chinese, and confused.
Sure, I’ve heard the stories;
Uncle Ed said he made it run,
but he also talked the glories
of hunting duck with tommy-gun.
So take it, keep your dollars and cents,
’cause you’ll pass it on in near-time hence.
Wow! Glad she didn’t toss it!