It has been stored in a cardboard box for probably 20 years. I took it out to use it, but there are fold lines. I ironed it but the fold lines did not come out. I used the low end of the cotton setting, with steam. It took almost an hour, and you can’t even tell it has been ironed! It looked fine on the ironing board, but as soon as it was laid flat on the table again, there they were.

I should probably wash it because there are some small brown stains. Since it is winter right now, I will put that off. Maybe indefinitely. They don’t show much. I was careful to avoid them when ironing. They are probably already set, though, since my mother used a mangle to press this before she put it away. For all I know, the stains are decades old. It’s probably coffee.

Would I have better luck using a damp presscloth? Does the actual tablecloth have to be wet? Thanks!

My mother passed it one to me before she died, and I finally have a dining room table big enough to show this off! That’s why it sat in a cardboard box for 20 years. Since even the box is old, I’m guessing that was good (the box is, umm, as old as I am). It was packed with less valuable dresser scarves above and below.

I will not be able to wash it until the weather gets warm. Even then, I’m worried about blocking something so big. Even though I carefully ironed around the stains myself, I doubt whatever has stained it will come out, since I can tell my Mom put this through the "mangle".

I can't take my own, my camera cable is lost.

Lay the piece flat while it settles and allow to completely dry. Do not fold for storage. Try rolling it around a large tube. If the tube is a paper-board product, it should be acid free. I'm thinking that most paper tubes that the ordinary person has access to is probably acidic.

As for washing it: My mom washed and dried it in the washer and dryer frequently all the years I was growing up - I'm 62 - and I knew my g-grandmother very well, which is how I know where it came from. I didn't realize it should be treated so carefully. It seems to be strong and resilient, given all the rough treatment it's had. I use it myself, and toss it in the washer and dryer just like mom did.

I have several other pieces from my ancestors, some tatted and crocheted borders hand-sewn on old flour sacks, lots and lots of embroidery, too. Stains and all, I love using these things.

I hope yours works out for you. They are a treasure to have.

Sherry

I might get a wood dowel to wrap it around, as it's too wide for a cardboard one. Maybe fold an old sheet around the tablecloth first.

Fill a bathtub with hot water, and DENTURE CLEANER :) Yup denture cleaner. I normally use, about a dozen tablets for a large item, half a dozen for a dress, less in a smaller bucket of hand made laces. And let it soak. Just like dentures, it targets the natural enemy's of teeth and fabric, coffee, acid, body oder marks (which are the worst enemy of antique dresses). It works on linen and cotton as well as silk, but silk takes a different process depending on the silk stregnth (pre 1930's normally can't take it). But a 100 plus year old table cloth...easy stuff.

Let it soak until the stains are gone. Try to get cheap denture cleaner (less likely to have any fancy crap in it for freshness but if those are there they won't hurt). As long as the fabric is natural cotton or linen it will work like a charm and the hard soaking will deal with the wrinkle issue.

When clean let the tub drain, then using the palms of your hannds push it in bunches down against the tub base to softly squeeze out the water (it's not as delicate as you'd think). Then take it out of the tub and lay it on a bunch of towels (lay them out sort of like a big blanket. Roll the table cloth in the towels and then once again, with the palms of your hands squish it down again to let the towels soak up the excess water. Hang it over the shower rod.

If the thing is so far gone the threads are rotted you'd know that because it fell apart when ironing. If it can handle an ironing it can handle the above. I actually wash mine (after restoration) in a machine on gentle and then dry them in a cool dryer. If they're not strong enough for that they're not strong enough for use on the table :)

I personally iron mine right on the table with a thick cloth (comforter etc) inbetween. I use a steam iron, but I also keep a bottle of spray water and use that on each section as I work on the cloth. I don't care for startch but many do use that on them.

This denture cleaner technique is the friend of anyone who loves antique linens. It will remove color so for any items with color it's a last ditch effort to be considered but really, last ditch! My only bad experience is when I did some hand tatted lace (huge amount of it) that was what loooked like a natural tan color but in fact was gray naturally which I found out when it was cleaned. I'd purchased it for a specific project so I had to scramble to find that amount again, but while doing so I made somethng else for the gray. :)

Does this work better than just using oxyclean?

The link below contains lots of good information for preserving old textiles....but remember, the method you might use to make something presentable to sell or use for a few years is very different than a method you might use on a piece you hope will survive for a few more generations.
Linda C

I find it works significantly better than oxyclean does. I do use oxyclean, but for antique cotton I prefer the quick and easy denture cleaner soak :)

Don't use the fancy stuff, no five min cleaner etc. I prefer to buy mine at a dollar store or polident's basic cleaner is fabulous.

Just FYI here is how Polident works on dentures:
Polident’s anti-bacterial cleaning system has several ingredients that participate in the cleaning process. The effervescent action (Sodium Bicarbonate and Citric Acid) provides mechanical cleaning action to loosen particles from the denture. The effervescent compounds also reduce odor by neutralizing the by-products of bacteria. The enzyme (everlace; Overnight only) breaks down and food proteins in plaque. The oxidants (sodium perborate & potassium monopersulfate) remove stains and whiten the denture teeth. The detergents (sodium polyphosphate & several others) clean by removing virtually all the particles that were broken down and loosened by the previously mentioned active ingredients.

I have a beautiful antique cloth I purchased in Spain probably 20 years ago. It is ecru and was filled with brown spots as well as rust spots when I bought it. I soaked it overnight in polident (six or 8 tabs most likely) and today, 20 years later it's beautiful and has no spots. Once the chemicals that cause the stain are gone, they don't return if they're removed properly.

Usually the water turnws a deep brown by the time its finished. rinse in cold water and repeat if needed. this is how my grandmother washed her linens and alot of those difficult stains like coffee and wine came out easily.

DO NOT use this method if it is a very very fine rare antique - consult a fabric restoration specialist in that case.