LOL Roc..I can't for the life of me figure out why someone would want to add dust mites to their frozen food instead of laundering the sheets the proper way....I bet its a cold water washer lol.

I love this kind of story (the dust mites in freezer). ROFL. Sometimes there is a time and a place for the "olden days". I got a look of wonder when I taught some of my daughter's friends to clean real jewelry with toothpaste in a pinch. It's a great mild abrasive and won't hurt gold or semi precious stones and really makes them shine.

Then there is washing sheets with dry milk to "soften" them. It's like 2016 and the snopes-tech just never goes away. If only folks would do a little more reading. There also are complaints about "noisy" percale sheets. Never heard that one before but suppose it could happen with printed sheets not washed on hot. Weird.

If you haven't washed the finishing chemicals off, the sheets will crackle when you shake them. But dry milk? Bon Appétit for the ants and cockroaches. Still chuckling.

I realize percale can make a sound..or is it a feel...lol...but noisy..lol...

Washing them in milk huh..agree with poppy..its a food fest for critters..so they complain of noisy sheets but don't mind the sour smell and swarms of ants..haha. Jane if they would hate you as you say above its because you know what your talking about and they must know they are talking nonsense..

@mamapinky - I have learned that, on the internet, people want to have their opinions and practices confirmed. They often don't recognize or appreciate expertise and offering it is not welcome. Some folks simply cannot be helped -- not with laundry or with life. I've got plenty -- plenty -- to do so I just shake my head and move on.

But knowing the folks here, I thought it would be good for a chuckle. As an old friend of ours used to say "you can't make this stuff up."

Yes, @poppy214, foodfest, right?

Dust mites will be the least of Washinmilk's problems if those "laundered" sheets are stacked in a closed, dark place.

And another thing..those sheets in the freezer are exposed to raw meat bacteria..and if they arnt than washed in sanitizing temps..someone could be sleeping with a lot of very sick bacterias. Ewww.

Roc .I went over to HD and read a bit...seriously people wash bedding in cold water...some lovely pics over there but the bedrooms must reek of stink....I wanted to comment but kept my fingers shut....LOL

By the way were not crazy over here....we all have the clean beds lol

We're not crazy. Crazy clean maybe but I'll take that any day.

I ran into the flea market this morning and that sweet lady had more sheets for me, she has a bunch at home, but can't carry too many at a time so she's bringing me a few at a time. I got 4 full Grant maid 100% cotton percale flats, 2 Grant Maid 100% cotton muslin...4 100% cotton percale Grant Maid pillowcases. ...15 beautiful pale pink Damask napkins, 8 cream Damask napkins and a whiteDamask tablecloth...all for the whopping price of 3.00....she's having a 1/2 price sale next Saturday at 9 and has invited me to come at 8 for a private time..lol...I will have to go as she's so sweet although I can't imagine cheaper prices. ...she does have some glass ware I'm interested in. ..I gave this lady a 5 dollar tip today..her prices are just to low. You know I'll be a boiling lol.

Roc, what's the best way to clean the Damask?

Oh, pinky you hit the motherlode. Damask napkins & cloths. Those are seriously expensive in most cases. Would love to see the patterns. That's another one of my loves. I actually did a post on Vintage Floral Damask.

Damask is a cotton jacquard weave. So, like sateen, there are some long threads. They are not locked down one/one. There needs to be an initial cold soak and then a hot wash. I wouldn't boil them though. I'd do your adding hot water. Would also use a mild detergent. Not Tide, f.ex., no boosters. If you have any of the Forever New left, it would take 2 Tb and do the whitening, stain removal and cleaning all in one.

Speaking of FN, I used it the other day to remove ink from DH's chinos. He was working on papers on the sofa and there were literally marks all over as he can't always see accurately. It did a great job.

Your thoughts?

This is the pale pink but its not really showing the correct color..I'll have to play around to get a better pic..these are hard to photograph...at first I thought it was a poinsetta but its not.

This is the cream but its photoing more pink

That's great that the FN removed ink..I do know its wonderful on sheets. I have none though so was thinking Vaska Tabs...I know not to put an iron crease in them if I'm putting them away. I wish the pink ones would photo better, its more of a whisper pink which will work well for Thanksgiving. Amiee wants a pink dinner table.

I'll follow your instructions for washing the napkins, and I thank you. ..

I am planning on ordering more FN, I really love it on bedding. But removing ink, quite surprises me, I know it does great on blood removal. Thank You Roc

Those are really lovely 1950s-60s napkins. The top one does look like pointsetta to me as well. Could be a holiday set. The carnation with the basket weave is so pretty.

Vaska tab should be fine.

Damask needs professional photography. Very difficult to photograph. I have some pink with broad ribbon stripes. They were my Mom's and so lovely to use.

Pinky you made a $100 haul.

Thank you Roc...lol...that's why I felt a five dollar tip to the vendor was only fair. She didn't want to take it lol.

The tablecloth has some stains that are probably oxidized, so I doubt they will come out, shame. But I'll give it a try.

Roc should I dry the napkins flat and iron damp?

The tablecloth is again soaking, I think some of the yellow stains came out and some lightened..they don't look like food stains, but who knows. I really like the tablecloth so hope I can save it. Thanks for all your excellent advice Roc.

Would dry an oxiclean soak on those stains. They may come out.

Damask needs to be damp ironed from the wrong side. Best not to dry them thoroughly. I roll them up and store in a baggie in the fridge if I need to delay ironing. Then store flat or just fold over and alternate. They get permanently creased if ironed down.

I just spun the tablecloth out..stains are gone. I sprinkled a little bit of Attack Japanese detergent on the stains, spritz them with water, rolled it up for 30 minutes and rewashed with no detergent..every last trace of the stains are gone.

Ok Thank You Roc, I won't machine dry damask and I'll iron on wrong side while damp..no iron creases. Thank you Roc!!

I went flea market-ing...I found a lovely pale yellow Damask tablecloth...6 white damask napkins..4 cotton napkins. ..one full size linen sheet...2 cotton pillowcases embroidered..1 full size muslin sheet..1 flat full size cotton percale sheet...4 linen table runners trimmed in delicate lace..a12piece dinnerware set with pink roses for Amiee, no markings, an old GE steam iron with the fabric cord and the manual...and 12 Springmaid 100% cotton percale pillowcases... made in the USA...UNUSED..never opened...lol.....all for the grand...it almost made me go broke...12$ yes twelve dollars....I will post pics another time.

Roc what type of fabric does this look like to you?

IMO it looks like linen or homespun. Look at the slubs. I embroider on this type of linen maybe cashel?

mamapinkyo - that fabric above my post, with the hemstitching, looks like oatmeal linen.

rococogurl said ---"The
U.S. textile industry basically was gone by the mid 1990s. So anything
before 1990 should be ok. The best Wamsutta will be 60s - late 80s. It
will say made in USA."

So true. Once it all went off-shore, quality went down the drain. I loved our old Wamsutta sheets purchased back in the 1970s and 1980s. No "wrinkle-resistance" resins on them, either. We still have a few pillowcases that survived, especially the ones with the scalloped satin stitching on the hem. There is nothing like them.

Cavimum...your right Wamsutta in its day was wonderful. Probably the best.

Yes that is a linen bed sheet LOL...

SInce the 12 percale pillowcases were new I didn't boil wash them. I did do a luke warm wash than a hot142F wash with Persil Pro Pearls...snow white and crisp...Amiee will iron a few,

Roc, that oatmeal colored linen I showed above..I felt it should have a 10 minute boil just because of critter control lol...the water looked like strong tea and had a strange odor..almist like old tea. Any idea why?

Yes, I agree. Linen bedsheet with hemstitched border. When I launder that type of border I remove it from the washer and gently pull the hemstitched area straight. Sometimes it can tighten up a little.

Love the sheen on these pillowcases.

@mamapinky you are hauling it in girl! Love it.

And yes, whoever set you run the equivalent of a laundromat is right. You deserve a great, great washer.

Thank You Roc, the pic is looking yellow but they are very white.

I have been washing this linen sheet, but the water keeps looking like tea is that normal? I know linen doesn't hold dye well and I'm wondering if that's what's going on.

I will remember about the hemstitch, and pull it gently. Thanks Roc.

No idea about the color leeching. Natural linen can be that color. I've been told that it doesn't take color easily. I'd just keep doing warm washes until it stops bleeding.

You might try a rinse with white vinegar to help the color bleeding. It might have been dyed with tea. That wasn't uncommon back in the olden days.

Waters clear now Thank you

Pretty Embroidered percale pillowcases

I have a matched set..I picked them up for Amiee

Your embroidered pillowcase reminds me of things I made back in the olden days when we still did that kind of sewing for a household trousseau. Is that tatting on the edge or a heavy weight lace?

Roc...you are a genius. .but we already knew that...I picked up 6 white Damask napkins in my haul yesterday, very badly stained. I put them to soak over night in cool water with oxiclean ..every stain is gone. Your cool water soaks really do work with this stuff...Thank you.

Very very pale yellow.tablecloth..but doesn't show on photo

Will we see Mama's Linen Emporium on Ebay or Etsy?

The cold oxiclean soak always works for me. Those enzymes must be very tricky. I was activating them in warm then going to cold but I swear the cold works best. Glad it works for you as well. I sometimes leave things in there 2 days.

Lovely embroidered pc. 1930s-40s I'd say. And the lilies of the valley motif were also popular in the late 40s early 50s.

Poppy..na..I usually only buy what I want to keep or for Amiees hope chest. Lol

Amiee has decided Percale is her favorite but she will love vintage muslin for the deep cold of winter and has decided to donate her flannel sheets..thank God. So I'm on the hunt for vintage muslin and more vintage percale for her hope chest.

AMiee was eyeballing this dinnerware at the flea market for a long time,there's no markings on any of it except the cups ssy USA..I thought it was a full service for 12 but its 18.. they gave them to me so cheap it was darn near free..needless to say Amiee is thrilled lol

I had an appt in the neighboring town today and there's a thrift store there called Saint Vincent-De-Paul dirt cheap prices..I found a thingy, actually I don't know what it is. I haven't measured it but I'd say its a queen size sheet or fancy bed cover of some sort its for sure 100% cotton....soon as its out of the dryer I'll take a pic..Amiee wanted it..50 cents..lol...and a Rowenta steam iron 1 dollar..they say it works, I haven't tried it yet. And a very pretty set of china service for 12 complete with 2 serving bowls, creamer, sugar and gravy boat..all are in mint condition. Actually each piece was wrapped in a clean white bounty paper towel and you can tell they came from a clean home and never went thru a dishwasher. 3 dollars for the full set..I'm going to flip this set..I just seen the same set on ebay or etsy for 275..so I spent 4.75 thrifting lol

Nice things and great prices. Waiting to hear how it goes with Mama Pinky's Suds!