Hi Debbi - don't panic. The ammonia likely brought out some oils that then redeposited closer to the surface. That's why when MamaP does her boil washes she has to do them several times with lots of rinses. I would try doing a hot wash with an oxygen bleach. MamaP may recommend another boil wash. We'll see ;)

Debbi did you boil them in an aluminum canning pot? Aluminum can do this.

I would rewash in hottest water using a whites detergent. And if its not helped..try an oxi soak for a day than rewash...I will also suggest never boil linen longer than 10 minutes...that's after the water comes to a rolling boil.

This could be cause by a chemical reaction to the pots

metal...will happen almost everytime a aluminum pot is used.

Thanks Mama. I did not use an aluminum pot. I used an enamel pot (the black speckled kind). I was thinking of washing with Oxiclean, but I wanted to see what happened first. We have city water - no rust like well water, so I really don't know why they would get so yellow.

Alex, thank you! I'm going to try the oxy this weekend and see what happens. Does anyone know why you are not supposed to use bleach on the linen? I suppose I could ask Tricia. I actually like how it made my pinafore white instead of ivory.

Debbi, thru my small amount of linen research I've run across many times that chlorine bleach causes serious damage to the fibers of linen.

I emailed Rough Linen and asked about bleach. I'll let you know when they respond. I thought linen was the most sturdy fabric of all, so I wouldn't think bleach would hurt it.

I have bleached pure linen kitchen towels with no obvious fabric degradation, but they aren't the same lovely, tight-weave linen as Tricia's sheets. My suspicion is that she markets these sheets as "buy them for life," and doesn't want to risk textile damage due to repeated bleach exposure. An occasional quick bleaching probably won't harm them (wait for her response still), but I think you will get better results from an oxy soak for the problem at hand! Chlorine bleach can worsen yellowing, especially if it's caused by minerals.

I am by no means an expert on linen, but I remember a friend who was in the fashion business telling me never to use chlorine bleach or dry clean white linen as both will yellow linen. I have two pair of white linen pants that I hot wash and use oxi on and they are both bright white. Good luck I'm sure the whiteness can be restored.

Linen cannot be treated like cotton. It's one thing to boil a cotton sheet. I wouldn't boil a linen sheet because the white color comes from bleaching the fibers which, in their natural state are close to an ivory color.

Looks to me like there may have been a chemical reaction from the ammonia.

If I had invested in a set of linen sheets I'd be washing them on very warm -- about 125F -- with Le Blanc or a green detergent like Vaska. Something to consider going forward.

Debbi...do you have an update?

Roc..gives great advice. I've boiled linen but I found it old and so filthy at a flea market.I knew I had to boil the cooties out.

Many many years ago before washers Linen was often boiled, they had little choice. But it was mainly boiled for the same reason I do it..to kill any critters. People were not as clean than as today, and all sorts of creepy critters were problematic in those days. they had no choice but to damage their textiles. We have great choices today.

125F Should keep Linen clean and undamaged. And like Roc says pure linen is more ivory its not stark white.

Let us know Debbi how your pillowslips turned out..this is a bummer...if it was the ammonia than it was caused from a chemical reaction from something...ammonia was often used years ago to clean linen..they used urine..no joke.

This is the response from Rough Linen:

The reason why we do not recommend using bleach or chlorine on our linens, is because the harshness from the chemicals weakens the fabric.

But you didn't use bleach or chlorine. Chemical reaction makes most sense.

From Wikipedia,

"Ammonia and ammonium salts can be readily detected, in very minute traces, by the addition of Nessler's solution, which gives a distinct yellow colouration in the presence of the least trace of ammonia or ammonium salts."

Debbi...I would put the pillowslip in the pot...add cool water to cover and put it on the stove..get it to a really nice hot temp, but not boiling...shut it off and stirr occassionally..don't add any detergent or additives, just clean water..see if the water changes color, look for a pale yellow tint in the water. This should tell you if the yellow will leach out with heat...if it doesn't than go ahead and add a few Tablespoons of Oxi..and stir awhile..check the water color again. ....I think Alex did a Miele boil wash on his RL sheets using ammonia with no problem.

Forgive me pinky but I don't agree. Why spend $400 on sheets and boil them? These aren't vintage linen. These are modern linen which have been prewashed. Linen can shrink 20-25% with that kind of washing.

Boiling laundry is for extreme issues, not for normal care.

An error was made that's all. We all make mistakes.

I did boil washes on my vintage linen kitchen towels that were yellowed and gross. The hottest I've washed my new Rough Linen is 175F, I think. Tricia says it's fine to boil wash but I suspect it will be years before mine need it -- if ever. I wash sheets too frequently for any buildup to occur.

I agree..Roc...but I think this is an extreme case...I am not asking her to boil them lol...just extra hot..boiling linen is not for modern day fabrics as I've said many times. And your right Roc, although these are linen..they are modern day. Thats why I said very hot but not boiling....just try a hot soak in a tub Debbie..no detergents and see if the water changes...I suspect oxidation though from a chemical reaction....that pan...you said is enamel, the speckled one...is it enamel glaze over aluminum..I thought that's what those speckled ones were..I could be wrong.

Alex...I wouldn't boil wash the RL sheets...even vintage linen was boiled mainly to kill critters which years ago were problematic...the integrity of the linen was sacrificed in order to be bug free.

Tricia clearly states that boil wash is fine for linen. I haven't done anything yet. It's been a busy week and today I'm sick. i feel confident that I can get the yellow out, even if I have to bleach them just once. I don't think just once will hurt. I do plan on trying oxi first.

Personally I wouldn't wash modern day fabrics above 160F and even that's pushing it. Now vintage percale or muslin is an altogether different matter.

Debbi, think about this on a day when you feel better.

Bleach? Seriously?

Oxi might work but I'm doubtful. I could be wrong -- hope I'm wrong. Ammonia precipitates yellow. I suspect that's the culprit here, not the boiling or the pan.

I have a ton of linen towels and napkins. Old ones. I've hot washed and restored them. The jacquard are tough but show everything.

I've also been shopping for linen sheets for a week now and I've been reading a lot. There isn't that much but there are curating sites in England and overseas with good info.

If Tricia says boil wash that's her opinion. With some reading, however, it's clear that very hot washing and drying can shrink linen by as much as 20%. That's why medium washing and minimal drying is recommended. Also why flat bottom sheets are being sold vs fitted.

Shrinking wouldn't be an issue with flat sheets but might be with pillowcases.

Again, I would put them in a cold oxi soak for 2 days and see if that helps. Then do a 140F wash max. Fingers crossed for you.

Incidentally, this is from Libeco, which is a top Belgian linen brand:

"f stains do not disappear, you can try:

• Soaking the linen in a good washing detergent, or dissolving 3.5
  oz. sodium borate in boiling water, then adding enough cold water to
  yield 1½ gallons, and let soak for 1 hour.
• Never use chlorine bleach which may damage the fibers."

I'm going to guess that the pot you used was steel. Any pot I had, with enamel, was always steel.

When you get done with the next wash version from above, and if its still yellow, try drying in the sun. I have not much experience with linen but I recall reading that in the old days to "bleach" linen, it was spread out on the grass to dry in the sun.

All the enameled pots that I've ever seen have been enamel over steel.

If there are any chips in the enamel in the interior of the pot, I suspect that the ammonia caused the steel to oxidize a bit and you ended up boil washing in rusty water.

Another possibility is that, if the pot has been used for canning, there was a very thin rusty residue (from the canning lids & rings) and the jar rack. I have two or three canners and all the racks are rusted and leave a residue on the inside of the canner.

Thank you Lantro..that's what I was getting at. I researched stove top boiling to often not to have learned about oxidation during boiling..and that's exactly what that pillow cover looks like....I've done it. Lol.

I think it looks like iron oxidation, too, mama. If that's the case, then absolutely NO chlorine bleach because bleach will only make the discoloration worse.

I have boil washed my Rough Linen a few times with no issues at all. I boil wash in the Miele washer that gets to 204F but not in a pot on the stove top.

Homepro...boil washing in a Miele is one thing but in a pot thats metal.. aluminum or whatever even if its glazed enamel can cause oxidation.

That being said boil temps like that is no good for linen modern or vintage. It breaks the fibers down. Sure it may appear fine but the life span in the end will be shortened. I highly doubt a RL sheet is going to fall apart after a boil wash, today, but what about 3 years from now. Remember what Roc tells us, good linen or cotton textiles are an investment, she's right. But end results with boiling linen or bleaching it is most certainly going to drastically shorten the investments lifespan.

Hey everyone, I'm feeling a little better. Still can't breathe or taste. Grrr! Last night I soaked the pillowslips in Oxyclean. This morning I put them in the washer with Oxy and some linen wash on a soak wash. When I transferred them from the sink to the washer, they looked like they were back to their original creamy white color. I will dry and hang after work tonight and let you know for sure. Thanks for your advice.

Glad your starting to feel better Debbi...and glad your pillowslips are feeling better.

Good news!

Here is after washing. They are damp but you can see the color against the dry sheet.