How do I launder vintage bath towels?

[polkanut]

<span style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino; font-size: 14pt;">As I've previously mentioned my mom & I are in the process of getting the home of an elderly family friend ready for an estate sale.  I was in the upstairs bathroom today and discovered a fantastic stash of vintage bath & hand towels, and washcloths that have been in storage since between 1964 & 1971.  Some still have the original mfr. tags on them, and others have been used but are in excellent condition.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino; font-size: 14pt;">My question is this:  how can I safely launder them without having them disintegrate on their maiden wash? </span>

[this post was last edited: 5/20/2015-22:12]

 

[supersuds]

Sounds wonderful!

I'm no expert but I have gotten some vintage dish towels and wash cloths from old boxes of detergent. 1960s and even earlier. They didn't need any babying. I just washed them in hot water with the rest of my towels.

 

[askolover]

That's what I did

when I got some of my grandmother's towels...washed them as normal.

 

[maytagbear]

If they haven't been

exposedd to excessive sunlight......I mean, like every daylight hour for years, they should be fine, though I would wash same color families together.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[polkanut]

Here's just a small sample of what the towels look like including the mfr label from the green floral towel.  The pink towel is a Cannon 100% cotton, and the green one is made by Callaway 68% cotton & 32% rayon.

 

Thanks for all of the advice so far guys, it's much appreciated.

 

[gansky1]

ABSORBenized! Love that!

I have many vintage towels that I've picked up from sales over the years, just found an unopened package of them last week. I usually wash them on their own the first time in case of excessive linting or color transfer, but I've never had any troubles. The yarn-dyed like you've pictured will last for a long time. Canon towels were made to last.

 

[circlew]

Interesting, they remind me of some towels we had when I was a kid - mainly Cannon and Fieldcrest.

I didn't know that Callaway ever made bath linens; I associate them with carpeting, as it's a brand of Milliken.

 

[polkanut]

Thanks everyone for your reassurances about laundering these vintage towels.  I washed them with 1 1/2 scoops Sears green box detergent, 1 BIZ pod, 2 tbsp STPP, 1/2 cup borax, and 1/2 cup Stanley Degreaser as a booster.  1/2 cap of Sam's Club Member's Mark softener (blue jug) in the rinse cycle.  Then out on clothesline to dry.  They look & smell great!

Fabric Softener & Dryer Sheets - Sam's Club

www.samsclub.com

 

[stan]

All that's

Seems excessive to me? Were they that dirty?

 

[mamapinky]

Tim

Did you take a picture of them hanging on the line? I love vintage towels and bedding.The sears detergent was a good choice I love how fresh and clean it makes everything smell...Cheryl

 

[ronhic]

How much product??

Tim, that is one hell of a lot of chemicals to clean what are essentially already 'clean', new towels.

 

If you need that quantity of chemicals to wash new, clean items, how much do you use when they're actually dirty?

 

 

 

[polkanut]

<span style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino; font-size: 12pt;">They were washed along with our regular weekly laundry.  I pretty much always use a "recipe" like this when doing laundry.  My wife jokes that some day the washer is going to explode.  Every so often I switch off between BIZ & Bluette bluing.  The Stanley Degreaser was found at the same house as the towels.  I was just experimenting to see if it actually helps in the laundry.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino; font-size: 12pt;">I used the suds-saver yesterday like always, and felt the amount of chemicals was justified.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino; font-size: 12pt;">Sorry Cheryl, no pics.  I hung the laundry out and then ran a few errands.</span>

 

[polkanut]

One thing I've noticed with the green floral towels is that because the fabric is a 68% cotton 32% rayon blend they don't get as stiff when line dried.  I also love that they are all slightly oversized.  In fact, at first I almost thought the washcloth was the hand towel. lol