So, you’re the proud owner of an embroidered blanket (that, or you’re just thinking of buying some embroidered bedding). Either way, great choice. Embroidery not only looks excellent, but it’s also incredibly comfortable too.
Of course, if you’re here, it’s because you’re stumped on exactly how to care for it.
How do you wash an embroidered throw? How often should you clean an embroidered blanket? Can you put your embroidered quilt in the washing machine, or should you take it to the dry cleaner?
The answer depends on a few things:
- The material of the blanket
- The material used for the embroidery
- Whether the embroidery was hand-stitched or done in a machine
With that said, there are a few general pieces of advice that apply to all embroidered bedding.
General Maintenance for Embroidered Bedding
Day-to-day maintenance isn’t terribly difficult. Try to avoid eating food on or around your blanket, and occasionally give it a once-over with your vacuum cleaner. If you need to iron your embroidery at any point, make sure you either flip it inside out (if possible) or else try to avoid the iron coming in contact with any needlework.
You will eventually need to wash your blanket no matter how well you care for it, however. How often you wash it depends mainly on how often you use it. A good rule of thumb is that if you use a blanket daily, wash it weekly; if you use it once a week, wash it once a month, and so on.
Machine Washing Embroidered Bedding
It’s important to note first and foremost that not all embroidery should be put in the washing machine. When in doubt, check with whoever you bought your blanket or throw from. They should be able to give you cleaning advice.
If you can get confirmation that it’s safe to put your bedding in the washing machine, you’ll want to do the following:
- Use mild, unscented detergent. You may want to invest in detergent specifically made for delicate fabrics.
- Avoid using bleach, fabric softener, or any other chemicals.
- Set the washer to as gentle of a cycle as possible. Most modern washing machines have a delicate setting.
- Wash with cold water only, and don’t put any other clothes in the wash with it.
- If possible, air-dry the bedding on a flat surface, or a clothes rack. If that’s not feasible, tumble dry it on the lowest heat.
- For smaller items, you can purchase a mesh washing bag.
Hand Washing Embroidered Bedding
Machine washing your embroidered bedding, even if you’re sure it’s safe, always carries an element of risk. The best way to wash embroidered blankets and throws will always be to do it by hand, however time-consuming that may be. To hand-wash your bedding:
- Fill a large sink or basin with cold water. If you have a bathtub, you may need to use that for more oversized items.
- Add some mild detergent to the water. Use your best judgment to figure out how much to add.
- Place the item you want to wash into the water, and gently move the water around to work up a lather.
- Leave the item submerged for at least thirty minutes.
- Rinse with cool water.
- Gently press some of the water out of the item, then allow it to air dry.
Stain Removal for Embroidered Bedding
If despite your best efforts, your embroidered bedding ends up with a stain on it, the following general advice about stain removal from embroidery applies:
- Deal with the stain immediately. Don’t give it a chance to soak in.
- Avoid scrubbing the fabric. Gently dab with a clean cloth.
- Depending on the type of stain, you might use baking soda, lemon juice, or vinegar to remove it.
- Steam cleaning is also a possibility, though a risky one.
Curious about BlueCotton’s own custom-embroidered blankets? You can find them here.