Bleaching, especially with chemical solutions, only works on white linen fabric. Bleaching is never recommended for colored linen. White linen textiles can only be bleached with chemical solutions that are chlorine-free. Stains from linen fabrics should be removed immediately before allowing them to dry.

Will bleach damage linen?

Linen fibers can be weakened by chlorine bleach. Undiluted bleach should never be applied directly to the fabric, even if it is white. ... However, even dilute solutions will weaken fibers causing them to rip and wear out if used too often.

Can you bleach table linens?

Good old-fashioned bleach can be used as both a pre-treatment for stains and in your washing machine along with detergent. ... Table linens that contain silk or wool should never be bleached, nor should certain colored fabrics.