Vintage Clothespins

My old clothespins:

 

 

Even though we've temporarily left the Florida farm and I no longer have a clothesline...

 

 

...I'll be using them to display my aprons at my show this weekend.

 

 

They add another vintage touch to my booth.

 

 

In the meantime, I kinda like the way they look in the milk glass ~ may just leave these on the kitchen table as a centerpiece!

 

Secrets to Cleaning Vintage Linens

I was busy yesterday, laundering some of my vintage, crocheted doilies and tablecloths.

I'm asked from time to time about the best way to clean vintage linens and though I'm sure many methods exist, these are my secrets for transforming cruddy linens into lovely linens...

For lightly stained or discolored linens I submerge them in water, pour lemon juice over them and liberally sprinkle them with salt.

I hang them in the sun for a few hours, letting the sun, lemon and salt work their magic.

Then I rinse them and hang them to dry and waalah!

My "secret soak" is required for heavily soiled linens.  First, I heat up a few gallons of water on the stove.  I want the water really hot, but not quite boiling.

While the water heats up, I pile the dirties into my favorite galvanized tub (just about any container will do, even a sink)...

...and collect the rest of my supplies:  For each gallon of water, 1 cup of Borax powder and 1 cup Oxyclean powder.

I sprinkle the detergents into my tub, pour the hot water in and mix the water well, using an old wooden spoon, until the soap is well dissolved.  Then I drop in my linens and let them soak for about two days, stirring them a couple of times each day.

Then I rinse my linens.  It normally takes three really good rinses to get out all of the detergent suds but if that doesn't get them all out, I'll add 1 cup of distilled vinegar to 1 gallon of water, swish the linens around a bit and rinse with water a final time.  Lastly, I'll hang them to dry.

Bright, free from discoloration and stains ~ clean!

If you're going to give my methods a try, please take a few minutes to spot test your linens to ensure they won't be affected, after all, many of these vintage linens are quite delicate.

Any of you out in Blogville in need of a generous stash of vintage linens?  I have these to give away for free (you cover the postage please)!

I've laundered most but not all of them.  Many are in pristine condition but some are damaged and should work for your projects.  It's a collection of doilies (most handmade but a few factory), dresser scarves, pot holders, kitchen scrubbers, etc.).  There are probably at least $100 worth of vintage linens here.

If you'd like these, please shoot me an email at Cindy@RetroRevival.Biz and let me know.

Update:  Dani reached out to me first and I'm sending her these goodies ~ I'm sure she'll make very good use of them!

And don't forget about my July blog giveaway ~ these sweet, vintage salt & pepper shakers.

Share a comment on any or all of my July posts and you're automatically entered to win.  Drawing is July 31st.

 

Wash, Dry, Fold, Repeat

Recently my mother gave me a huge stash of her old linens - yay!  Most of them originally belonged to her mother, my grandmother Lela Rosie, and I am thrilled to have them.  One of my favorites is this vintage clothespin keeper:

It now hangs in my otherwise "average" laundry room.  Average I say because it's so small and lacks an adequate amount of storage.  Despite its shortcomings, I've done my best to make it a cheerful place:

(Painted it a celadon green and added a colorful rug)

We hung a bunch of kitshcy laundry signs ~ they make me smile:

(Sporting Retro Revival's 1950's Style "Tuity Fruity" apron)

(Had to have the one on the bottom - looks like Twyla!)

And switched out the knobs on the cabinets:

One fine day, my dream laundry room will look something like this:

(Jackie Terrell designed this space for House Beautiful)

It will be huge!  With a big table for folding laundry and big enough to set up my ironing board, which by the way, I use so often that it's usually set up in my kitchen ~ ugh!

It will also be brightly colored.  Not a fan of wallpaper, I can stencil the walls to mimick this beautifully decorated laundry room:

(Photo from Cottage Living)

Oh, and my dream laundry room will also feature a fabulous chandelier, maybe like this one I found on http://www.betterhomesandgarden.com/:

Why not, right?!

Until then, I've got a few loads waiting...

(Modeling my 1950's Style "Beat It" apron.)

I've had several of you ask where I buy my fabric.  Of course, my vintage fabric aprons are made with found 1950's tablecloths but I find a lot of my new fabrics at J&O Fabric Store.  J&O has an amazing selection of fabu fabrics ~ like the one I used for my "Beat It" apron ~ much greater than most retail stores.  Check them out and I'm sure you'll find many irrestible!

Do you have a fabu laundry room?  Do tell!  Here, of course, and you'll automatically be entered to win this month's giveaway!

Each of your comments counts as one entry and if you mention my giveaway on YOUR blog, you'll get an extra five entries!  Good luck:)