Here is what I do and I was taught by a lady who sold linens at the flea market: Fill washing machine with very hot water. Add 1 cup Clorox II (color safe), 1 cup of BIZ and 1 cup of Cascade (dishwashing liquid) to the hot water Let washer agitate to mix thoroughly. Let water cool down to room temp Add all materials and agitate for a couple of minutes. Let soak 3 or 4 days.

If you have a small amount of whites, use just the Cascade in a bucket and only 1/3 cup

Please do not use a chlorine bleach such as Clorox! If you have linen, bleaching puts tiny holes in the linen. Clorox also weakens the fibers in cottons as well. I have washed church linens for years and have had to discard expensive linens damaged by using Clorox. We use Biz or Oxy Clean or Linen Wash (usually sold in stores where antique linens are sold.) You can also use lemon juice. Soak them in Biz or Oxy Clean in a plastic bucket for 24 hours. You may soak again. Rinse and rinse again. I lay them flat to dry. Some lay them on the grass in the sun to dry, but I have cats and birds and a shady yard. I repeat...DO NOT use bleach!

Martha Pullen who teaches heirloom sewing and collects antique garments uses Biz.

An all-fabric (not chlorine) bleach will usually do it. Sodium perborate is the ingredient you want. Some people re-package the dry chemical in a fancy bag and call it "Aunt Pittypat's vintage linen wash" or some such hooey, but it is the same chemical. You may have to soak it for a LONG time (2-3 days) to get results.

The trick is soaking for longer time when needed. I got some great vintage blocks from another member here that were stained and yellowed. I soaked in Oxyclean with a bucket, every day I would agitate them, and every week I would look them over and if there was still stains on them, redid the water and started over. These were appliqued so after a couple of weeks, they were perfect.

I Love OXYCLEAN! It works on all kinds of fabrics and is gentle enough for baby things. I've used it many times on vintage linens and it works almost every time.

Used this method for soaking white socks, underpants and bloodied handkerchiefs. ( Guess whose?) I used really hit water, let them soak for as couple hours and they would look great.

I love, love Grandmas stain remover....