[Corin Stormhands]

I've always been afraid that bleach would eat through the thread.

'Course the other tricksey thing right now is that I don't exactly recall where we have it stored.

But thanks. Those are good suggestions.

[HairOfTheDog]

But thanks. Those are good suggestions.

Indeed! I will have my friend look at it, but then probably take it in to a really good cleaner.

I also have a lot of old silver.... that's next!

[Wneighbor]

NOTE OF CAUTION: Neither of you said anything about keeping these things for monetary value as antiques - but the methods I've described of making them look nicer to use would severely deplete any antique monetary value associated with the items! They are valuable to some antiques people as they are now!

For my things, they were important sentimental family items and I preferred to have them in usable conditions for me.

[Wneighbor]

I am uploading photos of my doilies now so you can see the tea staining effect. I will say that there are still some browner spots on them. But, I live with that cause they aren't really "off" and I think it is okay with the antique look. I can see them in the photos and I think you will be able to tell what I'm talking about.

[Wneighbor]

Okay, doilie #1. You can slightly see a brown spot just to the lower right of the center of this.

Doilie #2 has more brown spots.. above center both right and left.

#3... okay, this is a different style. Due to the ruffles you can hardly see any variation in color in what used to be white. But, this one had a pink border on the white and I'm showing this because you can even see that the light tea staining worked well with the pink edging. The vase sits in the middle - which is a cotton weave because there is a spot there... but, I always keep something sitting there so no one ever sees that.

These items are in my dining area all the time. Though they have some minor discolorations I feel like they look nice enough and since they were made by a great great aunt they are valuable to me. I like having them out to enjoy rather than keeping them hidden away.

[SuziQ]

I've always been afraid that bleach would eat through the thread.

You could try one of those non-bleach whiteners. Clorox 2, is a peroxide based cleaner. Oxy Clean sounds like a peroxide based cleaner, too, but like Wneighbor said, it may be TOO strong.