Remove Old Stains on White Linens

• 1). Pour 1 gallon hot water into a bucket to remove old stains from white linens. Add 1/2 cup powdered dishwasher detergent and 1/4 cup bleach. Stir the three ingredients well with a paint stirrer.
  
  
• 2). Soak your white linens in the bleach and detergent solution for 15 minutes. Remove the linens from the bucket and flush with warm water. Look to see if the stains have been removed and, if not, continue to soak them for 15 more minutes.
  
  
• 3). Remove your linens from the bucket of detergent solution. Rinse under warm water.
  
  
• 4
  Wash stained linens after soaking them first.laundry image by timur1970 from Fotolia.com
  
  Launder your white linens using the hottest water allowable, using laundry detergent and the recommended amount of bleach. Hang your linens to dry and check to make sure all stains have been removed before drying them in the dryer or using the iron. If any of the old stains remain, repeat these steps.
  
  

Remove Old Stains on Colored Linens

• 1
  Soaking in cold water often helps to remove stains.bucket image by Aleksandr Ugorenkov from Fotolia.com
  
  Fill your bucket with cold water and soak your stained linens in the water for 30 minutes.
  
  
• 2). Remove your linens from the cold water and wring them out to remove excess water. Lay the linens on a flat work surface with the old stains facing up. Pour enough liquid laundry detergent over the stains to cover them.
  
  
• 3). Rub the laundry detergent into the stains and allow it to sit for 30 minutes to loosen remaining stains. Flush the stained areas with cool water.
  
  
• 4). Pour a laundry pre-soak with enzymes in it onto any last traces of stains. Rub the fibers of the fabric together to work the pre-soak into the stains, then allow the linens to sit overnight. The enzymes in the pre-soak break down any proteins in the stains.
  
  
• 5). Wash your linens in the recommended water temperature and add all-fabric bleach to the wash cycle, along with the laundry detergent. Allow your linens to air-dry, then check to make sure all stains have been removed. Repeat these steps for any remaining stains.