We have a few rules here at Restoration Momma. Mostly, they involve safety in the workshop and not buying things to keep for ourselves. One rule is no purchases involving fabric. Repairs are typically expensive, labor intensive, and fabric items are difficult to clean.
I recently broke the no fabric rule. Chenille bedspreads and blankets are something I remember from my childhood and I've always thought they look timeliness. Recently, I purchased four twin bedspreads from an online auction. When I brought them home, I realized they were full of stains. Thinking I had just acquired four new drop clothes for the workshop, I put them aside.
For some reason, I kept thinking about how lovely they were and what a shame they could not be used. So, I checked them over again and noticed they were in really good condition outside of the stains. And, two of them were labeled Morgan Jones Twin. Talk about the quintessential, mid-century chenille bedspread!
Even though I was convinced it was a lost cause, I decided to try removing the stains. With my lack of confidence, I unfortunately forgot to take before pictures.
After quite a bit of research, here's what I did:
Spot treated the stains using an oxycleaning product and let them sit for about 30 minutes.
Put each one in the washing machine separately on delicate cyle, cold water.
Placed the washing detergent in and sprinkled about 1/2 cup of baking soda on top of the blanket.
During the rinse cycle, I added 1 cup of white distilled vinegar to the washer.
Repeated this several times until the stains were gone.
Washed them one more time with just washing detergent to remove the vinegar smell.
Placed them in the dryer on delicate cycle, low heat to dry.
One blanket had some really stubborn stains, so I added just a touch of bleach to the last cycle (I know - a HUGE nope). I really thought that one would come out of the washer in a million pieces.
Did it work?
You bet it did! They smell wonderful and all stains are removed with the exception of a very small spot on the blanket I bleached. These vintage Chenille bedspreads are ready for many years on continued use. If I had twin beds in my home, I'd probably break the keeping things for ourselves rule.
Two matching Morgan Jones with Fringe. Two unmarked with Fringe. Available for $57/each*.
*Please note that the cleaning process I used removed all of the old fabric softener and I did not add it back into the cycle.