How to Clean Satin-Backed Embroidery

Slip a nylon stocking over the end of your vacuum cleaner hose and pull it tight to stretch across the opening of the hose. Run the end of the hose lightly over the embroidered item to vacuum dirt and dust from it.

Test the item for colorfastness to prevent runs when washing by wetting the end of a cotton swab with cold water. Dab and gently rub the swab over one color along the embroidery and check the swab to see if the color ran. Test other colors of the piece in the same way. Avoid washing the embroidery at all if any of the colors run.

Fill a clean sink with cold, distilled water. Add in 1 tbsp. of a gentle liquid laundry detergent.

Add the embroidered item to the water and allow it to soak for five to 10 minutes. Gently move the item back and forth in the water for a few minutes to agitate it without stretching, pulling or bunching the fabric.

Lift the item from the water and drain the soapy water from the sink. Do not wring, bunch or twist the item. Refill the sink and soak the item for five minutes after a little light agitation. Drain and refill the sink once more and soak the fabric one last time before draining the sink for good.

Lay a clean, dry towel out on a flat surface. Spread the satin embroidery out flat over the towel. Roll the towel up, starting at one end and working toward the other, trapping the material in the roll. Press on the rolled towel to squeeze the water out without twisting the towel.

Smooth a second towel onto a flat surface. Unroll the first towel and move the satin embroidery item to lay flat over top of the dry towel. Leave the material to dry in the open, away from sun or heat, for two to four hours.