How to Remove Stains from a Tablecloth

When your most beautiful linens fall victim to stains, don’t worry! You probably can’t prevent stains on your tablecloths, but with our help, your linens will become spotless again.

Read on for tips to save your linens from even the most stubborn stains:

• Clean stains immediately after the accident occurs. Initial action will not repair all the damage but will make further cleaning easier.
• Be careful not to spread the stain by rubbing. Gently blot stained areas working from the outside of the stain in.
• When solids are still stuck to the linen, use a dull knife to scrape off the remainder.
• Use plain water to clean the stain from the back side. You may be tempted to scrub the stain with a bar of soap, but that will only make the stain worse!
• For minor stains, pretreat by working heavy duty laundry detergent into the stain and letting it soak for 10 to 15 minutes before laundering.
• For persistent stains, try a stain remover product. Test the product on a less visible portion of the fabric to make sure it won’t bleach or damage your tablecloth. Once you know it’s safe, treat the stain, and let the linen sit for at least 10 minutes before washing.
• Wash heavily stained linens separately from the rest of the laundry.
• Check your stained linens after you’ve washed them before throwing them into the dryer. Heat from drying and ironing can make a sneaky stain permanent.
• Soak badly stained linens in very hot water with 1/4 to 1 cup of powdered dishwashing detergent. Submerge completely for 5 to 15 minutes.
• Always read the tablecloth’s care tag to learn specific do’s and don’ts.

Don’t be tempted to throw away a tablecloth just because of a stain. With a little effort, most stains can be removed. Remember, repairing a tablecloth is always less expensive than replacing one!

*Pro Tip* – Are you planning on a crazy party or lots of guests and food? You know there will be spills, so use darker linens to cut down on stain visibility!