I can buy Carbona Rust nearly everywhere here. Even in my local grocery stores. I've been using Clorox Oxygen Action because it is the same thing as Oxyclean but cheaper for me. I buy it in the big tubs at BJs. I also mix it with Biz because I find Biz (newly reformulated) works better on dirt. By far the best hint for me has been the drying in the sunshine. It really works!

Thanks, anitas_stuff! Pinning to the top now.

Daphne
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Howdy All,
I guess it's time to start up our Oxiclean discussion again. I am just going to ramble on what I have tried and what works for me and what doesn't. To those who frequented the corner, this is just a redo of what we discussed before. Jump on in anytime.
I love old textiles, I collect almost anything. I have tableclothes, napkins, aprons, doilies, shoe roses, lace, material, kitchen towels, handkerchiefs (which I use all the time), old lace collars and cuffs, old children's clothes, table scarves, pillowcases and a variety of linens and odds 'n ends. Because I keep most of my textiles, I have been trying different cleaning techniques.
For my delicate items, which would be silks, angora, old lace, anything with bright colors, I start with cold water wash with woolite. I let soak for a little while, I rinse well and dry flat. When you hang something, especially delicate items, the weight of the wet material over the line can pull and break threads. I dry flat on a towel usually, turning occasionally. If in doubt, wash in cold water and dry flat! I rarely put these in the washer and never in the dryer!
Always test colors to see if they run! Never wash multiple items together unless you know for sure the colored items (even colored thread) will not run and ruin the other items. Been there, done that. Take my word for it, better to be cautious.
If you have an item that you know is washer safe, it has some pretty large or bad stains then the next step is Oxiclean(see next post)
Scouter

Hello everyone
I love old linens also, any kind! And, I'm always trying out cleaning tips. Thought you all might be interested in my "goof". DON'T use oxiclean on wool or silk. It says it on the directions, but I didn't read them. I was working on some 80 year old crewel draperies, and the wool disintegrated.
Tasielou

Evening everyone,
I was browsing a websight I like for fabrics and found some info on different types of fibers/fabrics. It has info on how it is produced, it's care etc.
Today's info is on wool.
For centuries, sheep have provided mankind with food and clothing. Like flax (see Round Bobbin, May1999), wool was a very popular and widely used fiber until the Industrial Revolution. Sheep breeding and production in the United States is traced to Jamestown, Virginia, in 1609 and in Massachusetts as early as 1630. The sheep industry grew quickly and spread throughout the Northeast.

The New England textile industry can be traced to 1643 when English wool combers and carders settled in the region and began producing finished wool fabric. After the United States Civil War, the sheep industry moved west, reaching a peak of 50 million sheep in 1884. The sheep population has slowly declined since.

Types of Wool

The type of wool that a sheep produces varies by breed. For example, Merino sheep produce wool that is very fine. Merino wool is thus considered the most valuable of wools. Australia produces about 43 percent of the world’s Merino wool.

United States sheep producers raise four breeds of sheep that produce fine wool and fifteen breeds that produce medium-grade and coarse wools. The medium-grade wool comes from breeds raised primarily for food. Though sheep produces exist in all states (except Hawaii), most sheep operations are in the West.

The Production Process

Shearing – Sheep are sheared once per year, usually in the spring. The wool is trimmed in one piece, called a fleece.
Scouring – The fleece is washed to remove impurities, such as dirt, grease and dried sweat. Impurities account for between 30 and 70 percent of the fleece weight. At this point, the wool is considered cleaned wool or scoured wool. The grease that is removed is considered a valuable by-product. Lanolin, in its purified state, is used in creams, soaps, lotions, cosmetics and ointments.
Carding – The wool is combed to straighten the fibers.
Spinning – Once straightened, the fibers can be spun into yarn.
Characteristics of Wool

Durability: Wool fabrics are very durable and flexible. It can withstand being bent 20,000times without breaking. In comparison, cotton breaks after 3,000 bends and rayon can only be bent 75 times without breaking.

Comfort: Wool is an excellent insulator. It keeps heat close to the body by trapping still or dead air within the fibers. To a certain degree, wool is considered water repellent. Small amounts of liquid, such as spills, light rain or snow, will stay on the surface or run off the fabric. Wool fabrics also wick moisture away from the skin, keeping the wearer dryer when sweating and cooler when hot.

Care: Wool garments do not soil easily and are not easily spotted by grease and oils. These characteristics decrease the need to clean wool garments after every use. Recommended care for most wool garments is dry cleaning, however advances in technology have produced washable wools for more than 20 years. Washable wool garments with improved hand and shrinkage resistance are being developed. Wool blended with synthetic fibers and/or treated with special finishes help achieve the easy care characteristics.

Flammability: Wool is popular with interior designers because it is considered naturally flame retardant. While it will burn if exposed to flame, it burns slowly. When the flame is removed, the fabric usually quits burning.

Cost: Wool garments are not cheap. Consequently, wool is considered a luxury fiber. The initial cost of wool garments combined with the cost of dry cleaning makes wool clothing a continual investment. The high cost of wool clothing has lead to a number of synthetic substitutions. Acrylic, for example, imitates the characteristics of wool better than any other manufactured fiber.

The more we learn about our textiles, the better care we can take of them.

Scouter

Wow Cindi, Did you write that yourself? If I wasn't already a BIG, HUGE fan of silk you would have converted me:-o I have been washing silk for decades just as Cindi recommends. Though not in the beginning I had to learn by trial an error in the beginning ... One cautionary point that I would like to make. Recently I washed a silk hanky that was printed. It was already damaged so I wanted to test the dye of the print. Yup! it ran.... so you do want to watch out for some of the older silk items if they have a printed design.... Good Job! .... Anita

Nope, didn't write the articles, these are excerps from the fabric websight I like. They are just chock full of info but the sight is difficult to navigate.
Today's is Cotton

COTTON, cool, soft, comfortable, the principal clothing fiber of the world. Its production is one of the major factors in world prosperity and economic stability. Cotton "breathes". What would we do without cotton? Since cotton wrinkles, polyester was added to give it wash and wear properties for a busy world. In recent times, the consumer determined that polyester, although easier to care for, took away the cool from cotton and also added a "pilling" effect to cotton/polyester blends. Consumers now often request "100% Cotton". Permanent finishes also added to the all cotton fabric gave a wash and wear property to cotton. The cotton fiber is from the cotton plant’s seed pod, the fiber is hollow in the center and, under a microscope looks like a twisted ribbon. "Absorbent" cotton will retain 24-27 times its own weight in water and is stronger when wet than dry. This fiber absorbs and releases perspiration quickly, thus allowing the fabric to "breathe". Cotton can stand high temperatures and takes dyes easily. Chlorine bleach can be used to restore white garments to a clear white but this bleach may yellow chemically finished cottons or remove color in dyed cottons. Boiling and sterilizing temperatures can also be used on cotton without disintegration. Cotton can also be ironed at relatively high temperatures, stands up to abrasion and wears well.

Mercerized cotton is treated to permanently straighten the cotton fibers which then becomes a smooth, rod-like fiber that is uniform in appearance with a high luster. Cotton is often blended with other fibers such as polyester, linen, wool, to "blend" the best properties of each fiber.