How to get mildew/mold out of antique handkerchief & dollies

Jolene Croft
by Jolene Croft
  14 answers
  • Tinyshoes Tinyshoes on May 25, 2018

    I would be very careful but try bleach. It has worked for me and I have been lucky with somethings but not so much with others! Good luck!

  • Daphne Wilkins Daphne Wilkins on May 26, 2018

    I would you use oxiclean in boiling water ( makeup mixture and stir well). Let item soak carefully check it every 15 minutes, rub fabric if necessary and this may work!

  • Fong-Lie Bavelaar Fong-Lie Bavelaar on May 26, 2018

    I see colors, is it embroidery? It depend from the value of this antique item, to be careful I would try first a solution of vinegar and water, when that does not work, try boiling with this solution. Bleach will deteriorate the material, it had happened with an item from me.

  • Virginia Virginia on May 26, 2018

    vinegar and water or try a mixture of baking soda and water

  • Suzanne Burns Suzanne Burns on May 26, 2018

    Please do not rub these items. I have seen them absolutely shred to pieces if you do. There are also some soaks for antique fabrics. Nana's Heirloom Soak is one of them I use. Oxyclean may be good too. Just please squeeze instead of rubbing.

  • Lin Lin on May 26, 2018

    I have had good luck with a mixture of very hot water and dishwashing powder. The kind made for dishwashers. Not the pods. Then soak,

  • ☘️ TxBella ☘️ TxBella on May 26, 2018

    A little lemon juice and baking soda make a paste and let dry in the sun I don’t know how well this works but my Mother swore by it

  • One21520920 One21520920 on May 26, 2018

    Try lemon juice and water. Soak gently ... squeeze out water .. stretch to original shape and dry in the sun. May take a couple of tries. I always store my old linen in white tissue paper.

  • Hbet Hbet on May 26, 2018

    Gentle is the key word. As a worker in our history center I recommend placing onto acid-free copy paper, most reams are labeled in fine print. A Week or two in the freezer will kill some of the mildew so that it may be brushed off with a soft brush. Not a quick process but Grandma's linen is worth patience. Then use the lemon juice and distilled water. Please do not dry in the direct sun. repeat.

  • Granny Granny on May 26, 2018

    I have had luck just using peroxide. Let it sit and then wash on gentle cycle with warm water. Preserving the material is essential. It is already damage if the there is mold/mildew on it......

  • CJ CJ on May 26, 2018

    I wish you the best with whatever you try Jolene Croft! The Hometalk community is the best for helping with nearly any project!

    My "go-to" stain treatment was posted here on Hometalk. I'm sorry but I don't remember who it was, I was a new reader and didn't yet know how to save posts. The basic recipe is 1 part blue Dawn, or any Dawn that does NOT contain bleach or dyes that may stain, 2 parts peroxide, (the kind used for first aide.) Mix those two together then add enough baking soda to thicken and mix well. Normally you only need a thick liquid rather than a paste consistancy. Apply to the stain, rubbing it in with fingers or back of the stir spoon. Let set for an hour or two. Wash item and retreat if necessay. Extra mix will keep for a few days but looses potency after a couple of days.

    I often use this formula with great success. I keep the ingredients, plastic spoons for measuring and stirring and a jar with a lid in my laundry room for convenience.

  • Kitty hop Kitty hop on May 27, 2018

    There is a product on the market called Restoration by Engleside Products, Inc 1-717-397-9497-355 East Liberty St-Lancaster, PA 17602 that have used and like very much..but I've has this for a long time and don't know if you can still buy it.


  • Neeil Leverett Neeil Leverett on May 30, 2018

    I wash mine with Mrs. Stewart Liquid Blueing. Shape the piece and place it on grass to dry in the sun.