Stored Linen Mildewed

New Zealand Listener, Volume 14, Issue 357, 26 April 1946, Page 27

Stored Linen Mildewed

Dear Aunt Daisy, I am feeling very upset, as I have just gone to my box of linens, which have been stored for a year, and have found them covered in brown damp stains. All my.linen is unused, and I would be grateful if you could let me know how to get the stains out, This linen is pre-war, and impossible to re-place.-F.F., Auckland. What a heart-break! At least, it would be so if there were no remedy for mildew. But so many people have been successful with the chloride of lime method that I think you will too, Dissolve Ib, of chloride of lime in one gallon of water-it will take some hours. Then strain through a cloth, so that no undissolved particles may be left in the water, for these would weaken the fabric. Soak your linen in this strained water tor perhaps an hour-or more or less, according to the mildew. Watch the linensome pieces may get clean before others, depending on the material. Look at it often. Then rinse well in two or three waters, each containing a handful of washing soda-to "kill" the lime. Then wash and boil the linen in the usual way. People have told me that they have actually seen the mildewed spots fade

away as they watched them soaking. You would probably get the same result by soaking the linen in Clor-o-gene; but it is quite simple to make up the gallon of water as I have described. Don’t forget the rinsing water. For any coloured article which may not be fast, and would therefore bleach with the chloride of lime, try covering the dampened mildewed places with a thick plaster of Starch paste, made with cold water, and with some soap added; or tub the place with' soap before putting on the plaster. Leave the article out all night on clean grass, or on a towel. You may need to repeat this process, but generally once will do. Wash thoroughly afterwards. Some salt may be added to the starch paste.