Cleaning How-Tos
Step-by-step cleaning guides for fabrics, sewing machines, and garments. Learn how to remove tough stains from clothes, clean and maintain your iron, care for synthetic fabrics, and keep white clothing looking fresh.
March 14, 2026
Soak the fabric in oxygen bleach, either OxiClean or plain sodium percarbonate, in warm water for four to eight hours,…→
March 13, 2026
Hand wash handmade garments in cool water, dry them flat, and press rather than iron. The seams inside a handmade…→
March 13, 2026
Take the fabric outside first. Brush the dry growth off in open air so the spores do not spread through…→
March 13, 2026
You cannot dry clean at home in the literal sense, because real dry cleaning uses solvents and machinery you do…→
March 12, 2026
Wash wool in cool water, move it as little as possible, and dry it flat. Wool does not shrink from…→
March 12, 2026
Work a drop of undiluted dish soap into the grease with your fingers, leave it for five to ten minutes,…→
March 12, 2026
Hand wash silk and other delicates in cool water, no warmer than about 30C or 86F, with a pH-neutral or…→
March 11, 2026
Deep clean a sewing machine once a year, or whenever it is noisy after oiling, skipping stitches for no clear…→
March 11, 2026
Blot the ink, then dab it with isopropyl rubbing alcohol on a cotton pad while holding a clean cloth underneath…→
March 11, 2026
Wash a quilt on the gentlest cycle your machine has, in cold water, with a mild detergent and nothing else…→
