Any advice on cleaning an old linen strop? Mine is pretty bad and in need of some help. Could I throw it in the washing machine?
Just remember
Haven't cleaned a new linen strop, but I have cleaned a couple of vintage firehose linen pieces (took them to the dry-cleaners first, but they told me to hand-wash it instead). First, soak the thing in a small hand tub filled with cold water and a splash of Ivory liquid or Woolite for delicates. Then, from time to time, brush the fibers with an old tooth brush in the stains using a light touch. Allow to soak for a few hours and then rinse with a few changes of fresh cold water in the hand tub. Afterwards, remove excess water from strop by sandwiching it between a fold of a towel on a tabletop, and then pressing out the excess with a rolling pin starting from the center and moving outwards towards both ends. And finally, allow to dry for several hours between another fold of a towel on a flat floor or table top with large, heavy books resting on top of all the length. Upon removal, the strop should be suitably cleaned and pressed.