Winning Ways for Cleaning Table Linens

Even in the hectic pace of life in today's culture of disposable consumerism, there is still room for certain old traditions. Despite the omnipresence of throw away paper napkins and plastic table mats, cloth table linens still hold an exalted position in the world of fine dining. With a little care and effort, you can have your linens shining like new for all your important events.

It goes without saying that table linens and napkins will be soiled at some point, regardless of whether the cloth is white or colored. No matter, though, since cleaning your linen can be performed using everyday household items, such as bleach, Ivory Snow powder, Woolite or Orvus Quilt Soap.

Even though most table linen is created from weaves of extreme fineness, it is nevertheless a strong durable material that will endure for years. When washed properly, the fabric will have a snowlike color and maintain a great degree of stiffness. Colored linens retain their hues very well and are available in a wide assortment of shades. Here are tips for keeping them looking their brightest.

Machine washing is satisfactory for your table linens, using the delicate setting for the most fragile cloths, of course. Prior to laundering them, you need to soak the linens in water. For badly stained fabrics, use bleach with the water, following the bleach container instructions for the proper amount. Soak white linens for approximately twenty minutes in cool water and then wash them in hot water, with regular or heavy-duty laundry soap. Using the amount of soil in the linens, set the washing machine for somewhere between eight to twenty minutes.

Since white linens, when washed correctly, retain a sharp whiteness, bluing is not necessary. If you prefer to do it anyway, no harm will be done. The same holds true for starching, except in cases where a higher level of stiffening is sought. For those who are fastidious about their linens, separating them from cottons when in the wash is a common practice. Some linens, such as damasks, often accumulate lint from cotton that gives them a fuzzy appearance. When drying these linens, make certain the dryer is set to room temperature if possible.

When laundering colored and delicate white linens, use only a mild soap such as Ivory Snow or Woolite along with warm water. Dry the delicates in the sun as much as possible, but be sure the colored linens dry in a shady spot. Folding them carefully over the line, hang them with the hems presses neatly to make ironing easier. Do not pin them by a corner.

Instances will certainly occur where you have severely stained table linens. Most often using bleach as described before can fix this. There are a number of stains that should be treated differently: tea, fruit, coffee, wine and candlewax. To remedy this soilage, refer to the manufacturer's instructions for your linens. Normally, grease and lipstick will come out easily, but it won't hurt to apply some liquid soap or detergent to them in advance of washing. Colored cloths (especially those in darker hues) with grease stains are highly recommended for this pretreatment, since they tend to obscure the spot until ironing is performed.

When ironing your table linens, be sure they are damp consistently throughout, or they will lose their usual smoothness and glossy texture. Except for linens with especially sheer threads, all others need a hot iron set for linen and must be pressed until all moisture is gone. To further protect the linens, place a discarded linen cloth over the ironing board. This will help keep them bright and full of sheen since lint can be attracted from a cover made of cotton. An important note when ironing is that a dry iron is necessary instead a steam device.

Special handling is required when pressing out tablecloths and napkins. Iron them on both sides, but with tablecloths fold them lengthwise with the wrong side out. Use the thread of the fabric to guide your iron. Then, with the right side out, refold the tablecloth and proceed to iron again, this time pressing along the crease in the center. After a repeat of folding lengthwise, overlap the linen crosswise a number of times, but be careful to not press the folds. All you need is one crisp crease down the center. Napkins should initially be ironed on the wrong side, using the corners as a starting point. Be certain to properly rightangle them to prevent any warping of the threading. Follow that with ironing on the right side. Finally, you should fold your large napkins in thirds, while the small ones are fine folded in squares with even edges.

If you follow these cleaning methods, you'll be able to beam with pride as your dinner party guests rave about how impressive your table setting is. Follow it up with a delectable meal and wine and you'll have an affair to remember.

*Table Linen Care, Ivory Snow, Woolite and Orvus Quilt Soap, TableLinens.us